What is FISH? And what does fish have to do with us? FISH is simply a food pantry for low-income families. There are a number of FISH pantries in the Bay Area, and in fact, around the world. But it’s not so much an organization as it is a movement.
The movement began in 1961, in England, when an Anglican church decided that they had not taken seriously Jesus’ command to “love your neighbor.” The old-fashioned concept of “neighborhood” had declined as the rapid pace of modern society increased. Their church committed themselves to serve their neighborhood by simply putting signs with a fish logo in their living room windows that said, “If you need help of any kind, contact me.” A system was put into place to meet the needs that surfaced.
The movement spread and has continued to grow. It is found throughout the world and in every denomination. FISH groups are committed to help people in their community at no cost to those in need, no strings attached. And it is done in Jesus’ name.
The word FISH is closely related to Jesus himself. The Greek word, “ichthus” means “fish” in English. The letters in Greek make up an acronym that stands for “Jesus Christ, God’s Son, Savior.” The symbol was used in the early church as a way of identifying other Christians. In the days of persecution, one person might draw the upper curved line of a fish, and if the other person were a Christian, he would finish the picture by drawing the lower curved line to make a simple picture of a fish. In this way they could identify themselves without exposing one another to danger.
You could say that Jesus began the movement when he multiplied the loaves and fishes. He gave the commandment, “Love one another, as I have loved you.”
The movement began in 1961, in England, when an Anglican church decided that they had not taken seriously Jesus’ command to “love your neighbor.” The old-fashioned concept of “neighborhood” had declined as the rapid pace of modern society increased. Their church committed themselves to serve their neighborhood by simply putting signs with a fish logo in their living room windows that said, “If you need help of any kind, contact me.” A system was put into place to meet the needs that surfaced.
The movement spread and has continued to grow. It is found throughout the world and in every denomination. FISH groups are committed to help people in their community at no cost to those in need, no strings attached. And it is done in Jesus’ name.
The word FISH is closely related to Jesus himself. The Greek word, “ichthus” means “fish” in English. The letters in Greek make up an acronym that stands for “Jesus Christ, God’s Son, Savior.” The symbol was used in the early church as a way of identifying other Christians. In the days of persecution, one person might draw the upper curved line of a fish, and if the other person were a Christian, he would finish the picture by drawing the lower curved line to make a simple picture of a fish. In this way they could identify themselves without exposing one another to danger.
You could say that Jesus began the movement when he multiplied the loaves and fishes. He gave the commandment, “Love one another, as I have loved you.”