We are working to get pictures and video up so that everyone can see what it looked like in this building last night. I’ll put a summary of thoughts up in the next day or so as well.
We served 1200+ families and had 4,000+ ( VERY conservatively) come for Christmas assistance. Thanks to everyone who contributed financially and volunteered.
God bless you and Merry Christmas.
Everyone Belongs,
Paul
So here it is, the day before a big day. 4 months ago the idea of a couple people to throw a Christmas party to families in need has turned into a God-given opportunity to touch 1500 families with the “kindness of God that leads to repentance” (Rom. 2). The ‘party’ happens tomorrow.
A couple things: This would not be possible if we made this all about us. After years of investment in the same community (by our church) the power of partnership is ‘expanding our territory’ more than anything else. We have partnered with multiple community groups and key non-profits to be able to reach out. Because of the generosity of our church, our community ,and the 4 other churches who have partnered with West Ridge Church (Pumpkinvine Baptist, Hope Methodist, Church at the Ridge, Cedarcrest Church) we will have enough food and gifts for every family.
Even if a family does not come to the party, food boxes are being delivered Monday. 1500 families will get some kind of Christmas assistance.
So one last challenge: For whomever reads this today and tomorrow, please pray for what is going to happen on this campus. We are praying with great expectations. God has shown us this was His idea. And He has stepped in to make sure it happens the right way.
Along with prayer here is some encouragement. My wife and I have cut back on Christmas this year. There are lots of reasons for it, and none of them have to do with personal hardship. It is very simple. We are extraordinarily blessed. Over the years we have become more aware of the needs in our own community, and with my travels to Burkina Faso, the lens with which we see the world has changed. I’m not trying to be pious. My boys are getting some good gifts! We are just not going overboard. The main reason for cutting back was to be sure we engaged with A Fresh Hope and CAYA and the West Ridge Gift Offering, even if in just a small way, without letting the season pass us by.
Don’t let the season pass you by. We can still use canned goods and gifts tomorrow. And if you go to West Ridge (or another church that is doing something similar), the easiest thing you can do to engage this community and the world at Christmas is to give a larger gift to Christ than any other single gift you are giving this year. Participate in the Gift Offering this year as a way of thanking God for all the good gifts He sends our way.
I’ll post an update on this event tomorrow night or Monday.
Everyone Belongs,
Paul
Back in August we partnered with A Fresh Hope and were able to help them give 1,100 backpacks to families across Northwest Atlanta. Right away, two thoughts came to those of us helping lead this. #1, Did we or could we use this as an entrance point for sharing the gospel? #2 How could we facilitate another ministry opportunity that would help us ‘touch’ these families again? We put the idea of a Christmas Party on the table, not knowing what was coming next.
A month later I was in a meeting with one of our local ministry partners, CAYA. Their volunteer administrator’s eyes were big as saucers as she told me about a ministry opportunity. An extremely vital organization that ministers to the needs of families and children in Paulding Co. was giving us the opportunity to help with their Christmas program. The Paulding Holiday program (run by the Paulding Collaborative) ministers to hundreds of families each Christmas by giving new toys to those who otherwise could not afford it.
After a little bit of discussion they allowed us to partner with them to provide a distribution point for the toys, and we offered to provide a food box for each family as well. How would we do it? By throwing a Christmas Party!
The story gets better, we are not the only church involved. Our great friends at Hope Methodist Church, Church at the Ridge, and Cedarcrest Church, (along with West Ridge Church) are joining together to encourage the families in our community who need it the most this time of year.
Fifteen hundred of them. Fifteen hundred families from Paulding that we did not have to go looking for, they are coming to us. They need support and encouragement and local community service organizations and churches are willing to give it.
We need your help. There is lots of opportunity for you to lend your support. You don’t have to do them all, but everyone can do something. I am placing the opportunities in a separate post to make it easy for you to send along to family and friends.
Everyone Belongs,
Paul
Here are some very simple ways for you to partner local community service groups and churches to give over 1500 families a great Christmas.
#1 – Put together a food box.
2 cans green beans, 2 cans corn, 2 cans yams, 2 boxes mac and cheese, 2 boxes stuffing, Cranberry sauce, Gravy and a gift card to Publix to help us put a ‘Christmas Hen’ in the box. As you can see, this is a very inexpensive Christmas dinner. Everyone can do at least one. This will give families the resource they need to prepare a Christmas dinner themselves. You can bring your box to one of the sponsoring churches on the 14th or on the 21st. (Hope Church, Cedarcrest Church, Church at the Ridge, West Ridge Church)
#2 – Waverly Gilcrease at ‘A Fresh Hope’ has this idea for a ‘Giving Room’. This is a room full of presents that kids can use to give away to someone on Christmas morning. These should be new, unwrapped gifts that kids could use to give to whoever they desire, including Parents, Grandparents and Siblings. If you don’t want to go shopping, you can use paypal to make a donation to ‘A Fresh Hope’. Waverly loves to shop!
#3 – Anywhere you see Toys for Tots in Paulding County put a new toy in the box. We will be distributing those toys to the families receiving assistance with Toys for Tots at our Christmas Party!
This post is #2 in the explanation of how this Party came together, and was written this way to make it easier to share with others. Please pass it along. For more information on this year’s Christmas party visit www.everyonebelongs.wordpress.com.
Everyone Belongs,
Paul
