On Sept. 4, 2021, the Anglican Diocese of Belize expressed its gratitude via resolutions to The Rt. Rev. Gregory O. Brewer and the Episcopal Diocese of Central Florida along with The Rev. John Clark, Mrs. Jacki Bailey-Clark and No One Hungry Inc. The resolution to Brewer and the diocese included thanks for the diocese’s ministry to its aspirants and lay leaders through Institute for Christian Studies online classes and other guidance to its Commission on Ministry. The resolution to the Clarks and No One Hungry, however, began with a dream.

Several years ago, Clark, known as “Deacon Johnny,” awoke one morning from a dream with a clear message from God: “Go to Belize.” He had no idea what that meant or even where the small county of Belize was, but he knew that when God speaks, we must listen.

Because of Clark’s obedience to God’s command, lives have been changed through his ministry of feeding others, not only in Belize but in the U.S. and other countries, including the Bahamas, Haiti and Venezuela.

It doesn’t take a long conversation to find out that Clark is a go-getter. When he sees a need, he immediately starts thinking of ways to help meet that need. On his initial trip to Belize in 2016, one of his first stops was a soup kitchen that had fed 300 people that day. After learning that the soup kitchen bought its staples at the grocery store at full retail price, Clark made a visit to the rice grower and received permission to pay the distributor’s price. He also asked the grower to make a monthly donation of rice to help feed his fellow Belizeans, a program that continues today.

Since that first trip to Belize, Clark has expanded his ministry. In 2020, he garnered the support of the Sunrise Rotary Club in Titusville for various projects. Because of the partnership between the Anglican Diocese of Belize and No One Hungry, a church is currently under construction in Belize. Scholarship programs for Anglican schools in Belize have been put into place, and he has brought a Bible study program called “Hearts Alive” from Bible Study Media, headed by The Rev. Charlie Holt (who formerly served in the Diocese of Central Florida) to all 22 Anglican schools, reaching more than 5,000 students. Clark also brought Institute for Christian Studies courses to the clergy of Belize.

This year, Bailey-Clark planted gardens to help the people of Belize grow healthy fruits and vegetables. Kim Simplis Barrow, the first lady of Belize, took a great interest in Bailey-Clark’s “God’s Garden” project to help her people and partnered with her in multiple ways.

Clark, his wife and many others have worked together to help people in this small, often unknown, country work together on projects that benefit others. When they began the gardens project, a Nazarene Belizean pastor volunteered to help people. In addition, the son of the second in command of the police force owns a sawmill and volunteered to build boxes for gardening, while others donated soil for the boxes.

Clark and his wife not only travel to Belize to oversee these projects, but while at home in Central Florida, they remain active in ministry. The No One Hungry food pantry, which began in Clark’s church, St. Gabriel’s, Titusville, is now an agency partner with Second Harvest. A program called Eagles Market ministers in five schools with a student marketplace supported by No One Hungry.

Anyone who has a conversation with Clark will quickly realize he doesn’t want any of the glory for his efforts in answering God’s call. “This is a network of things God has put together,” he said. “I am so blessed to be a part of it.”

To learn more about No One Hungry Inc., please visit noonehungryfl.org or the No One Hungry Facebook page.