If you want to meet with Pastor Enoc Marquez, perhaps your best bet would be to meet him at one of his food distribution locations on the west side of Phoenix near one of his many churches. Marquez has a burden to minister to the Hispanic communities of the Phoenix metro area — not only to provide them spiritual food from the Word of God, but also food for their families who are often in need.

Daily you will find Marquez’s silver truck driving to the various stores that supply him with food. Recently, Food Lion presented him with large boxes of ripening tomatoes and avocados. Another store gave him large boxes of corn chips which were soon to pass the expiration date — still good, but couldn't be sold in stores.

Marquez’s assistant, Carlos Calderon, follows along in his taupe Honda which is filled to overflowing with boxes of food for the many people who will be waiting at their delivery points throughout the west valley of Phoenix.

Marquez, an ardent evangelist, often answers Bible questions and distributes literature to those receiving the food. The recipients are encouraged to attend the numerous evangelistic meetings held in his five churches and two companies.

It’s impossible for Marquez to meet all the challenges of his congregations so he trains lay members to assist in the work. Each year, he schedules five evangelistic campaigns. One is conducted by earliteens. Another is hosted by the youth. A third is directed by elders. Women host the fourth series, and Marquez conducts the final one.

This year Marquez has already baptized 110 individuals. Thirty of these are directly related to his food ministry.

He tells the story of one couple in Buckeye, Ariz., who came for food but found that nothing was left but a small bundle of cilantro when they arrived. However, they did not go away empty handed. Marquez enrolled them in Bible studies and soon they were baptized.

A young man, Pedro, recently arrived from nearby Mexico and was destitute. He had no place to work, no living accommodations and no food. Marquez and his congregation cared for Pedro’s needs and while he was working to help remodel the Shalom church, he began Bible studies and was later baptized. He now has a job, a place to stay, and a new church family that cares very much for Pedro and his physical and spiritual needs.