It’s Still Christmas February 16, 2013
Posted by rshort in : 3-Missions Projects , comments closed
Christmas may have already passed but it’s a holiday that long stays on the hearts and minds of Kid’s Quest families because February is the month that some very special Christmas gifts from us reach their final destinations. In November, a little over 100 MBC children, youth, and adults came together to assemble gift-filled shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child, a ministry of Samaritan’s Purse International Relief, that presents our gifts and the Gospel message to children living in desperate situations around the world, including children living in 23 closed countries.
Kid’s Quest families lovingly put together 434 gift boxes adding to the 9 million total boxes collected from churches all over the United States. That’s 9 million children that just recently heard for the first time the Good News that Jesus is the greatest gift of all. These boxes are very unique gifts. New children are selected each year to receive them so they are once-in-a-lifetime gifts.
We are excited to share that our boxes were recently delivered to children living in Zimbabwe, Mali, and Ukraine. Enjoy some stories from box recipients:
“Many children were shocked at first when they received their present and couldn’t believe it was theirs to keep…Most had never received a gift in their lives and had no real possessions of their own.” – OCC volunteer
“These boys live underground, in sewer pipes. The shoe box gifts were the first gifts they ever received!” – Ukraine volunteer
“Churches in our country have been united as the Body of Christ, more than ever before, by the demonstration of the love of God, through a simple shoebox.” - Local Pastor in Zimbabwe
“Church denominations are being united through the OCC ministry everywhere in the country, working together as never before.” – Mali
“There were some people – men and women who came to me to bring me a gift. I was very surprised. My first thought was that it’s not for me, but they confirmed that it was mine. So, thank you everybody – I don’t know who you are and how you happen to know me that you’ve brought me a gift. I am very glad and I tell everyone – just believe – the miracles come true! I am sure about it. Then those people told me that God has concern for me and He will not leave me and my mom alone if we would come to Him in prayer.” – 9 year old girl in the Ukraine
“We wish to express our sincere gratitude for the kind gesture your ministry extended to us. The gifts you sent us were received in good order and have been of great help in ministry to our children. Through our Sunday school ministry we were able to distribute the gifts among the children in our congregation. Some of the children were very needy, especially for school stationery, which was part of the gifts. These items went a long way in satisfying the need for the older children, while we got wonderful toys for the younger ones. Every letter that was sent to us was read out loud and appreciated. It was also an opportunity for our Sunday school teachers to teach our children about giving, and the love of our God that has caused them to receive these gifts from other brethren. May God shower you with His love, joy and protection as you continue in His service. Your love goes round the globe.” – Local Pastor in Africa
A big thank you to all who participated in this Kid’s Quest missions project. We hope it was a rewarding experience for families and a special teaching moment for kids. Enjoy a video of our Assembly Day and continue to pray for the children who received our gifts!
P.S.
Does your family believe in the impact of Operations Christmas Child, not only on the children receiving gift boxes but on your own as well as they participate in this project? We’re looking for resourceful families willing to take advantage of the free opportunities around them to start now in collecting small toys, tolietries, craft/school supplies, and kid’s clothing to fit inside shoeboxes for when this project returns again in the fall. We’ll tell you how to do it and it won’t cost a thing but the potential impact on your family is priceless! Contact Romney Short at romney.short@mcleanbible.org to learn more.
Feeding Hungry Families February 14, 2013
Posted by rshort in : 3-Missions Projects , comments closedVideo shown in KQ Large Group & KIDstuff
According to a study by the Department of Neighborhood and Community Services for Fairfax County, “The Fairfax-Falls Church area is one of the wealthiest areas of the United States. This wealth often obscures the fact that a substantial number of low-income persons live here. Amidst the wealth of the Fairfax-Falls Church area, over 44,000 residents received Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits and over a quarter of the students enrolled in the Fairfax County Public Schools received free or reduced-cost lunches. Furthermore, Fairfax County is home to more than 62,000 individuals who live below poverty and another 86,000 residents who live in households with incomes 100 to 185 percent of poverty (2010 American Community Survey). It is likely that many of these low-income residents struggle to feed their families a nutritious and sufficient amount of food.”
As we consider the seriousness of these statistics we must also consider the seriousness of what God’s shares with us in Matthew 25:31-40:
“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’”
Wow! When we provide for the needs of others in God’s name, He views our efforts as an act of love and worship that He wishes to bless us for! God wants us to love Him by loving others. That’s why we’re encouraging our kids to participate in our current Missions Project supporting The Shepherd’s Food Pantry. Should hard times place a family or a person in temporary crisis, The Shepherd’s Food Pantry supplies non-perishable food, toiletries, God’s love, a listening ear, compassion, and prayer. And by meeting the physical needs of families, doors are opened to addressing their spiritual needs as well.
Through the end of February we’re collecting 3-pound bags of rice and any type of canned bean. We are specifically collecting rice and beans because these are the most often requested food items of the recipients. Please make sure items are not expired. Collection bins are located at Kid’s Quest Check-in Stations. Offering funds collected will go towards the purchase of additional food items.
For more about The Shepherd’s Food Pantry go to cityimpactdc.org/foodpantry. They welcome families serving together by packing food boxes on the 2nd and 4th Monday of every month at 7:00 pm in Community Room C or The Rock Gym.
P.S.
While it may be easier for you to gather food items on your own, we encourage you not to pass up the opportunity for a teachable moment with your kids. Have your kids participate in finding the items and dropping them into the collection bins.
Last Call For Coats December 23, 2012
Posted by rshort in : 3-Missions Projects , comments closed
This is our final week to collect used coats to give to kids in need this winter. You can drop coats in collection bins at Kid’s Quest check-in stations on Christmas Eve, Dec. 24 or through next weekend, Dec. 29/30.
Enjoy Coat Story Part 1 and Part 2 which we shared with your kids in Elementary Large Group.
Got Coats? December 12, 2012
Posted by rshort in : 3-Missions Projects , comments closed
Howdy partner!
This month we’re continuing to partner with The Clothing Shop, an MBC Ministry, to collect used kid’s coats your kids no longer need to give to other kids in our community who could use a coat this winter. And this weekend in Kid’s Quest Elementary Large Group we’re unveiling part 2 of “Coat Story” to share this missions project with your kids. You can see part 1, which we showed last month, here.
While it may be more efficient for you to gather your family’s unwanted coats yourself, don’t pass up a teachable moment with your kids! Round up your kids for a scavenger hunt in your house for all their unwanted coats – time them to see how fast they can go or offer up a small prize to whoever finds the most. Or put on a family fashion show to try on all your coats to see which ones no longer fit. Or grab a toy sword and shield to go on a grand adventure together to brave a dark, scary cave (you know, that hall closet that’s bursting with coats that haven’t seen the light of day in years). Who knows what else is lurking in there! Then bring them all back to the collection bins at Kid’s Quest check-in stations.
Coats do not need to be in perfect condition. Nothing goes to waste. The Clothing Shop coordinates with other organizations so that any items that can’t be used “as is” are either mended or recycled for reusable parts. To learn more about The Clothing Shop, contact Faith Battle at 703-639-2000, x1026 or email clothingshop@mcleanbible.org.
P.S. Don’t forget to get your kids to Elementary Large Group on time, prior to 10 minutes into the service time, to see part 2 of “Coat Story.”
A Coat Story November 9, 2012
Posted by rshort in : 3-Missions Projects , comments closed
Howdy partner! We’re rounding up used kid’s coats as part of our November-December missions project. We’re partnering with The Clothing Shop, an MBC Ministry, to give the coats that your kids no longer need to other kids in our community who could use a coat this winter.
So reach for the sky! No wait, that’s not quite right. Reach for your closets because that closet ain’t big enough for all those unwanted coats. And let’s hope you don’t accidentally find a snake in your boots while you’re looking! While it may be easier for you to gather the coats on your own, we encourage you not to pass up the opportunity for a teachable moment with your kids. Have your kids participate in finding all the coats.
Coats do not need to be in perfect condition. Nothing goes to waste. The Clothing Shop coordinates with other organizations so that any items that can’t be used “as is” are either mended or recycled for reusable parts.
Drop off coats in the collection bins at Kid’s Quest check-in stations. For more about The Clothing Shop, contact Faith Battle at 703-639-2000, x1026 or email clothingshop@mcleanbible.org.
P.S. Make sure your kids make it to Elementary Large Group on time (prior to 10 minutes into the service time) on Nov. 17/18 to see our Coats For Kids promo called “Coat Story.”