Over the last couple of years we have been given and incredible opportunity to reach out to families in Northwest Atlanta at Christmas time through an event we call, Hope For Christmas. Our key partner is a non-profit called, A Fresh Hope. It was started by an elementary child just a few years ago with a heart to reach out to less fortunate children in our area. Last year we threw this Christmas party and provided two toys to each child and a food box for each family.

This year, Hope for Christmas is scheduled for Saturday, 12/11/2010. This year we hope to provide Christmas to between 4,000-5,000 children and a box of food to each of their families. We also provide the opportunity for every child to ‘shop‘ (for free) for a member of their family, so that they can know the joy of giving on Christmas morning.

A Fresh Hope and West Ridge work to drum up community support to make this event happen, but our ability to reach out to as many families as possible is realized exponentially through the buy-in of the people at West Ridge. In the past we have looked to everyone in our church to bring in a toy and some canned goods, and we hope that you will.

This year we want to give you the opportunity to think ahead, and issue a challenge from the leadership at A Fresh Hope.

What is the Hope for Christmas Challenge? Well, we are asking for people to do 4 things each month from now until 12/11/2010/

1. Pray for the event. Pray that this event is the vehicle to reach the community. Pray the community sees the Light of Jesus from this event.
2. Purchase 1 toy a month from now until December.
3. Purchase several cans of food for the food bag each month from now until December (items needed are: green beans, corn, yams, boxes of stuffing, mac and cheese, Gravy & cranberry sauce.)
4. Purchase 1 new gift item for the Secret Santa Shoppe.  Dad gifts are particularly needed

Just a little bit extra every month will allow you to invest in families in an incredible way this year. This event also requires hundreds of volunteers, and we will have that information for you very soon, but go ahead and save the date!

For ongoing updates, pictures, details on what you can begin to purchase, check the Hope For Christmas Facebook Page.

Everyone Belongs,

Paul

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“All the food is free tomorrow night for guests. They ask for a donation to A Fresh Hope per a meal instead of paying for the food but that is optional. This Stevi B’s is a huge one with the 106 flavor Coke Machine. Waverly hung out at the Coke Machine all day. They have like 6 different Diet Cokes- heavenly.

I would love to see a lot of support for A Fresh Hope and Stevi B’s tomorrow night if possible. This Stevi Bs is at the corner of South Cobb Drive and the East West Connector in the Publix shopping Center. Go past Cobb Hospital about 5 minutes on the East West Connector. We will be there from 5:00 – 8:00. Stevi B’s really seemed to ‘buy’ into A Fresh Hope and would love to partner in more ways in the future.

All money raise tomorrow night will go towards Hope for Christmas which is scheduled for 12-11-2010. So, bring your family. You have to feed them dinner, right?  Bring your neighbors, they probably need to eat too.

See you there,
Jennifer”

Everyone Belongs,

Paul

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This is a tremendous opportunity for churches of every shape, size, and color to come together in unity and lead the way.

Engage Atlanta is hosting a lunch for Pastors and Church Leaders on January 14th  at 12:00 pm at Pappasito’s  located at 2788 Windy Hill Road in Marietta, near the junction of I-285 and I-75.

We are also going to take some time to discuss our “Community Makeover” happening July 25-27, 2010, and how it can be used by each church to engage their own communities and continue to be a valuable tool in flood relief.

Everyone Belongs,

Paul

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Ask yourself, do you really know what it’s like to be hungry? These people do. They don’t just think “it’s lunch time let me go to the kitchen to get something to eat.” They don’t think that because they have been in their kitchen 5 times and they know there is nothing there. These people are glad school started back because atleast they know their child will get one nutricious meal a day.
True hunger goes far beyond skipping breakfast, but from skipping meals for a day or two. True hunger is more than a rumble in your stomach; it is a place of quiet desperation. Most of you may have been there at one point in your life but most of you have no idea what that is like long term.

Warehouse of Hope is being hit by the economy tremendously. The deposit here to pay to get the food here, our lights on, and our bills paid are lower than they have been in 2 years. Not because we are helping less people but because people that come in here now are lucky if they have the gas money to get here much less the money to give a donation.

We need your help. We are asking you to search your heart and determine if you and your family can give $12 for 12 months.  That is a really small investment in a really big cause. You are more than welcome to donate  more but I’m starting out small only because I know that everyone is having to make sacrifices in this economy.  If we had 100% participation and signed up 1200 donor families, it still only covers approximately 50% of the projected ministry expenses.

As a friend of mine once said “It’s not our money God blesses us with it so use it to bless others and God will bless you even more.”

Just keep in mind when you are sitting down to eat dinner with your family that you are blessed more than most because you have not only a family but a meal to sit down and share with them. Thanks for taking your time to read this. I really hope you will spread the word so we can continue to bless others. If you need any further information please email me. Or you can mail your donations to:

Warehouse of Hope
100 Hunter Rd.
Douglasville, Ga 30134

You can use your donation as a tax deduction also. Keep in mind we also accept any clothes, canned goods, small household items, books, furniture, and kid’s toys. If you don’t feel like this is something you want to do, please consider emailing it to everyone on your email list who might be interested.

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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

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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

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