The first family we served was a family who had just recently moved out of the family shelter at the New Orleans Mission. Both the mother and father have worked very hard and saved their money in order to have a place of their own for their two young children. From the very beginning the father told us about how brave and courageous his children have been through their circumstances. He tearfully exclaimed at one point in our conversation, “They have been so understanding and have adjusted through our different circumstances so well. I just want them to feel appreciated. I want them to feel special.” Also, when the father asked his children for a Christmas wish list, each child made a list of eight or nine items. Some of the things on their wish list were “love, my dad to get better (both children), big thank you’ll see at Christmas, and a fairy to come to my house”. They of course requested toys such as a play station, art stuff, and Air Jordan’s as well.
When we went shopping for them the Lord took the money we had and equipped us to purchase both children with basic undergarment clothing needs, as well as multiple new outfits for each child. When we paid for the daughters clothing we were rewarded with an automatic discount on our next purchase. Praise God for that because we used it immediately for the son’s clothing! Also, we were able to purchase multiple toys for each child. We were excited to find an art desk/easel for a third of the money we had to spend on the daughter for toys. That freed up the remaining two thirds to fill up her desk with all the art and scrap booking supplies a little girls heart could desire (which happens to be her passion)! We also decided to purchase a PS2 and one game for the boy. As you know, they are very expensive. Yet again, God is present, and we were able to purchase a PS2, an extra controller, and not one but three games. It was really awesome how the money was stretched to get the things that the parents wished they could buy for each child and we did not have to sacrifice quality in those items at all. Praise God for providing so big to this family!
The second family we served was a single mother and her toddler. This mother had also had moved out of a family shelter at the New Orleans Mission just a few weeks before Christmas. We were able to take her out shopping with us two days before Christmas. Have you ever been shopping at Wal-Mart two days before Christmas? I would not recommend doing it, unless you are taking Jesus with you. Despite the craziness and chaotic atmosphere of last minute shoppers, all five of us (yes Shaan & Jack too) had a BLAST! It was such a blessing for us to get to spend time with her and get know about her and her son. Also, it was a lot of fun to share in her joy of getting to pick out new outfits and toys for her child for Christmas. Again, God really worked through this opportunity and multiplied what we had in order to meet all the needs of this little boy.
The focus in our work is to build relationships with the people we serve in the community. Our desire is to not only introduce people to Christ, but walk along side with them as we mature in Christ. Although, we are not always the vessels that God uses to walk alongside of them, we always enter each new relationship with the expectancy for God to work in big ways. Please pray that if the Lord wants to further use us in these family’s lives that he will open those doors for us to further connect with them.
The second part of our Christmas project involved supporting Cherie Wright a member at Celebration’s River Parishes Campus and her desire to put together some food baskets for Christmas. We met Cherie and her husband Shawn at a leadership summit. Shawn was in need of Bibles to give out. For anyone who does not know Shawn, he is a man on fire for the Lord. It doesn’t matter where he is; he is going to talk about Jesus. If you don’t know Jesus, he is going to show you the way! It was in this encounter that we were able to put Bibles in their hand and learn about Cherie’s desire to make food baskets for the holidays and to start a pantry.
Once Kati and I prayed, and agreed that we needed and wanted to support Cherie and her desire, God started making things happen. It was really awesome to see how all the life groups, in addition to their own individual ministries, pulled resources together and also engaged the community to accomplish this project. I could tell you everything we witnessed, but I think Cherie’s testimony more adequately portrays the events that led to the Lord multiplying their baskets.
“Believe God, Trust God, Let God work!” We always hear things like this or even sometimes say them ourselves. But it is the most amazing experience when you actually believe God, trust God and then see God work. Our original intent with our Christmas project was to help at least 5 families. And though 5 seems like a small number, because we have such a small congregation 5 was actually a pretty daunting task.
We began with just asking members to bring in can goods & collecting donations through our Life Groups. Then Angie and Katie called us to let us know that they were going to help us in our efforts by purchasing the perishable food items for us. What a blessing this was! With all the donations we received in can goods, gifts and the food that was donated through Angie and Katie, we were able to bless 11 families. More than double what we were expecting.
But the blessings did not stop there. Our almost nonexistent food pantry has so much food now, that we really don’t have enough space for it. Since Christmas we have been able to help at least 6 more families. We are now able to continue to help those in our congregation and community who are in need. It has been truly wonderful to see how God has touched the hearts of the people of RPC and allowed them to give above and beyond to those in need. PRAISE GOD!
We want to ask that you will pray for our RPC that they will be able to have more opportunities to pour into the families that they served through their Christmas project. Also, pray that they may continue to believe God, trust God, and let God work in and through them.
Again, we want to just say a big thank you to our family at Celebration Church who continually steps up to support and equip us to serve and give to those for whom our heart most desperately beats. We love you and continue to pray for you!
Angie, Kati, Shaan, & Jack
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