Take This Bread

Take This Bread chronicles Sara Miles' transformation from atheist journalist to food pantry founder and church leader. Her conversion begins with an unexpected experience at St. Gregory's Episcopal Church in San Francisco. Miles draws connections between food, faith, and community as she establishes a food distribution program at St. Gregory's. The narrative follows her work to build and sustain the pantry while navigating relationships with religious institutions, volunteers, and the people they serve. Through personal stories and observations, Miles examines class divisions, religious traditions, and the practical challenges of feeding those in need. Her background in journalism and food writing informs her perspective on hunger, both physical and spiritual. The memoir explores themes of radical inclusion, the intersection of faith and action, and how serving others can reshape one's understanding of religion and community. Miles raises questions about what it means to practice Christianity in modern urban America.

Readers connect with Miles' raw honesty about her spiritual journey from atheist to Christian and her work feeding the hungry through food pantries. Reviews highlight her engaging storytelling style and unflinching examination of both faith and doubt. Readers appreciated: - Clear, vivid writing that avoids preachiness - Fresh perspective on Christianity from an outsider's viewpoint - Practical focus on serving others through food ministry - Authentic portrayal of struggling with belief Common criticisms: - Too much focus on personal details/relationships - Political views that some found distracting - Structure meanders at times - Some felt the food pantry logistics needed more detail Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (3,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (280+ ratings) "Her brutal honesty about doubt speaks to skeptics like me," wrote one Goodreads reviewer. Another noted: "Expected a book about food ministry but got a deeper story about finding faith in unexpected places."

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🍞 Sara Miles was a confirmed atheist and longtime war correspondent before her unexpected religious conversion, which began when she spontaneously walked into St. Gregory's Episcopal Church and took communion. 📚 The food pantry Miles established at St. Gregory's now feeds thousands of people each week and has inspired similar programs at more than 20 other churches. 🌟 Prior to writing this memoir, Miles worked as a restaurant cook and journalist, reporting from places like El Salvador, the Philippines, and Chile during times of political conflict. 🕊️ The book challenges traditional church boundaries by describing how Miles welcomed everyone to receive food at the pantry—including homeless people, sex workers, and undocumented immigrants—without requiring paperwork or religious participation. 🍽️ The title "Take This Bread" references both the literal food distribution program and the Christian communion ritual that transformed Miles's life, creating a powerful metaphor that runs throughout the book.