Herstory
Reverend Cora-Dina ‘Roxanne’ Cameron and her family migrated from Guyana to the United States. She is a devout Christian who partners with her husband, Reverend Dr. Oswen F. Cameron in running the Lighthouse Ministries International (LHMI), located in Beltsville, Maryland. She is the Associate Pastor of LHMI and Founder of the Cora Dian Cameron Heart of Hope Extended (CDCHOHE) Inc. which is a 501(c) charitable organisation. Guyanese at home would remember Pastor Cameron radio broadcast as a then member of the Wesleyan Church.
People like Roxane stand out for helping in the holistic development of the human race. The LHMI, even as it provides for one’s spiritual well-being through worship services, also provides an active Community and Outreach Programme, offering services that could augment physical, mental, emotional, and financial health. The programme includes:-The “Bread of Life” Food Bank Distribution Program, “GO” Missions & Outreach to international and national communities in need, Back to School Supplies Distribution, Annual Thanksgiving Basket and Sharing Christmas Joy.
The Holy Bible recounts stories of Jesus Christ attending to man’s spiritual and physical hunger, providing food and nourishment, and impressing on the importance of both. Although Christians are taught “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4); they know from the Lord’s Prayer, learned at an early age, to ask that He “Give us this day our daily bread” (Matthew 6:11).
Christians are well aware, according to the Gospel of John, of Christ feeding a multitude with five loaves and two fishes. This was after a sermon He held and those in attendance fell hungry. Nourishment is important to the body. It is the combination of being able to provide both spiritual and natural food that makes the work of CDCHOHE and LHMI a light and blessing to those whose lives are being touched.
Serving the DMV (Washington D.C, Maryland and Virginia)
Roxanne’s food feeding programme, which is known as the Bread of Life Distribution (BOLD) Pantry Ministry, was operated by the LHMI since 2008 but in 2018 came under her CDCHOHE operational management. According to the website, the pantry provides for families and other charitable organisations serving those in need. This is no small undertaking and requires a high level of competency to serve, “qualifying residents of Prince George’s County, Montgomery County, Washington, D.C., and Virginia.” Sponsorship for BOLD comes from retail megastores like Giant, Costco Wholesale, Food Lion, Ottensberg Bakery, and Capital Diam.
During the pandemic the pantry continued to do God’s work operating consistent with Maryland guidelines. COVID-19 has adversely impacted the DMV economies. More than two million in Maryland lost their jobs, more than 481,000 in Virginia, and about 300,000 in Washington D.C. The service BOLD provides, even without the job lost during the pandemic, has contributed to help feeding the poor and hungry. In the DMV, statistics of residents living below the poverty line are: – 16.8 %, in D.C, 9.9 % in Maryland and 9.9 % in Virginia.
In the midst of those stark numbers, every mouth that is fed or could be assured there is somewhere they could go and receive a hamper, brings a blessing to the provider. Hunger affects mood (mental), strength (physical), mental (learning) and financial (money) health. By giving of her time to help in the global fight against hunger Roxanne is making a positive difference. Her contribution is reminder that “Kindness to the poor is a loan to the Lord, and He will repay the lender” (Proverbs 19:17).
