Spirit of Giving

Christmas time is just around the corner (feels weird to say that as I write before Halloween), and I want to take a second and remind you about the opportunities and needs that are presented us during this season.

Backpacks for Appalachia – These are due really soon. We have become a pickup site for the GBC this year. Several of your churches participate, and the pickup info is on Nov 5^th at after noon at Northside. So, if you have your backpacks, you can bring them to Northside between 8-4 on Tuesday and Wednesday, or Thurs before lunch. Everything has to be boxed and ready by Thursday at noon. This is a needed and worthwhile ministry. If you need info, or want to participate individually, here is the website http://missiongeorgia.org/backpacks-for-appalachia/.

Lottie Moon – Of course, most of you know about the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering. It is our biggest offering of the year. This offering goes strictly to missionaries on the field and the supplies they need to carry out their ministries. This offering makes up nearly 60% of the IMB’s budget for the year. We have missionaries from the Mell Association serving overseas, and this helps keep them there. Info on the LMCO is located here - http://www.imb.org/main/lottie-moon/default.asp. As you may know the IMB has made large-scale cutbacks this year because of funding shortfalls, and we must help! Goal again for this year is $175,000,000 (for you and me that get confused with 0’s, that’s $175 million), let’s help them reach it. Five billion people need it.

Santa’s Helpers – This is an opportunity to give and to volunteer at the same time. Through this ministry we give 1200 underprivileged children in Tift County. This year they have experienced a cut in funding. Since Jog for Jake did not go this year, Santa’s Helpers lost $15,000 of their $20,000 budget. This means that instead of helping 500 families, they will only be able to help 300, as well as reducing the number of toys. We took up over $3400 to help make up the shortfall. You as individuals and as churches can really help meet this need. And of course, they are always in need of volunteers to help pack (Dec 7-11) and distribution (Dec 17^th). This year’s distribution will be at the county fairgrounds.

End of Year Gifts – Many non-profits in our area benefit from end-of-year donations. After you talk with the Lord (and your financial advisor, if you wish) consider giving to one of the location organizations such as Christian Women’s Job Corps, Ruth’s Cottage/Patticake House, Pregnancy Care Center, Lifehouse Ministries, Called to Care, Brother Charlie’s, or you could also give a gift to the association (we don’t turn money away).

Of course there are others, as we are commanded to look after the orphans and widows, to visit the sick and imprisoned, to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and give cups of cold water in Jesus name. We are to be the hands and feet of Jesus all the time, but let this time of year, when Jesus came to earth as the greatest gift and most humble servant ever.

Let me be the first to say it J, Merry Christmas!