• Christmas in August® 2011

     

    During the month of August, children’s missions organizations collect gifts for a select group of North American missionaries. The items are used to help these missionaries replenish ministry supplies, purchase items for ministry centers, and minister to people in their communities who need to hear about Jesus.

    History  | Testimonies 

    Things to remember: 

    • Pray and choose your missionary for Christmas in August.
    • Tell everyone about the project. Give out a list of the items. Tell when and where to leave the gifts.
    • Send only those items specified on the list. Send new items only. You don’t have to include everything that is on the list, because other churches will take part, too.
    • When you send the items, include a card with your address. Put a stamp on the card. The missionary can use the card to let you know that he or she received your gift.
    • Don’t send the items separately. If you want, you may wrap the box (or boxes) with gift wrap. Then wrap it again with plain heavy paper before you mail it.
    • Find out the exact postage to pay for your box or boxes. If you select the missionary in Canada, take note of the special instructions for mailing to that country.
    • Pray for the missionary, his or her ministries, and the people served.  
         		    
    WMU Publications Featuring Christmas in August®

     

    • Mission Friends Leader: The WMU magazine for Mission Friends teachers. Missions Friends are preschoolers. Visit www.wmu.com/preschool to learn more.
    • GA World: The WMU magazine for Girls in Action (GA) leaders of girls in grades 1-6. Visit www.wmu.com/children to learn more.
    • Children in Action Leader: The WMU publication for Children in Action, a coed organization for children in grades 1-6. Visit www.wmu.com/children to learn more.
    • Acteens Leader: The WMU magazine for Acteen leaders of girls in grades 7-12. Visit www.wmu.com/students to learn more!
    • The Mag: The WMU magazine for teen girls in grades 7-12.  Visit www.wmu.com/students to learn more!
    • Mission Leader: The WMU magazine for mission education leaders. Learn more at www.wmu.com.
    • Nuestra Tarea: The WMU magazine for Spanish-speaking adults. Visit www.wmu.com/cultures.com to learn more!

    NAMB Publications Featuring Christmas in August 

     Christmas in August missionaries for 2011 (Names, addresses, needs lists; also noted is publication in which they are featured)  

     

    Dewey and Kathie Aiken
    Appalachian Regional Ministry 
    19 Connestee Rd.
    Brevard, NC 28712
    (828) 553-7694
    (828) 553-8785
    dkaiken@arministry.org
    http://www.arministry.org
     

    We work in six of the twelve states served by Appalachian Regional Ministry. We work with churches and ministry centers to help provide people in Appalachia with school supplies for their children and other needs they have. We try to help people here know Jesus.

    • backpacks
    • notebook paper
    • spiral notebooks
    • pencils
    • pens
    • colored pencils
    • crayons
    • folders
    • rulers
    • kindergarten paper
    • glue sticks

     

    Anne Crawford
    Caterpillar Ministries: Kids Becoming a New Creation
    10338 Linksland Dr.
    Huntersville, NC 28078
    (704) 654-6988
    ann_crawford@bellsouth.net 

    I work with children who are extremely poor. We provide programs for their mothers and for them, such as kids clubs, tutoring, and English classes. These children do not have enough to eat. We provide free meals all summer and a few times a week during the school year. The children love to learn about Jesus!

     

    • gift cards: Walmart, gasoline, LifeWay
    • new or gently used children’s Bibles
    • Bible-story books
    • glue sticks
    • watercolor paint sets
    • construction paper
    • playground balls
    • soccer balls
    • basketballs
    • jump ropes
    • bubbles
    • Spanish or English Christian books/devotionals for women

     

    Bobby and Jacqueline Fuller
    1103 Cherry St.
    Freeport, TX 77541     
    (979) 233-5641 
    info@texasportministry.org
    http://www.texasportministry.org 

    Texas Port Ministry provides spiritual, social, and physical care for international seafarers and other port workers. We provide these people with transportation and share the good news about Jesus with them. Your gifts will help us provide Welcome Bags for seafarers and will help us purchase items we need for our ministry.

    • Walmart gift cards
    • bath soap (5-oz. bars)
    • men’s white crew-length socks
    • disposable razors
    • toothpaste (6–8-oz. tubes)
    • toothbrushes (individually wrapped and sealed)
    • tissues (10-sheet pocket packs)
    • chewing gum (5-stick packs)
    • handmade bookmarks
    • lip balm

     

    Andrew Mann
    Mail: PO Box 541559; Bronx, NY 10454*
    Packages: 342 Brook Ave.; Bronx, NY 10454*
    *Please send mail and packages AFTER September 1. 
    (718) 775-6640
    Andrew.Mann@gmail.com
    http://www.graffiti2ministries.org 

    Graffiti 2 Community Ministries is a church in the inner city of New York. We work to meet the needs of children, teens, and families who live in what has been called the “worst neighborhood in the city to raise children.” People here struggle with violence, poverty, health problems, teen pregnancy, and poor education standards. We run after-school and summer programs for children and teens, and train parents to volunteer in our ministry. We have also started a new church. 

    • gift cards: Walmart, Toys“R”Us, Target, Staples, Best Buy, Barnes & Noble, BJ’s, LifeWay, Christian Book Distributors**

    **We have very little storage space. We prefer to receive gift cards that will enable us to purchase drink mixes, board games, school supplies, alarm clocks, toys, children’s Bibles, EvangeCubes, arts-and-crafts supplies, and cake mix. 

     

    Gary Mathis
    US Postal Service:—PO Box 71486; North Charleston, SC 29415
    UPS and FedEx:—3625 Azalea Dr.; North Charleston, SC 29405
    (843) 723-4571
    garymathis@charlestonbaptist.net
    http://www.charlestonbaptist.net 

    We serve people through several ministries: seafarer, disaster relief, motorcycle, resort, and camps. We give New Testaments away through all of these ministries. We use the gift cards to help disaster victims and to purchase ministry supplies.

    •  gift cards: LifeWay, Walmart, Lowe’s, The Home Depot
    •  New Testaments
       

    Arlene Miller
    4425 Clark Store Rd.
    Crofton, KY 42217 

    • toothpaste, toothbrushes
    • bar soap, liquid soap
    • large-print Bibles
    • deodorant (men’s and women’s)
    • shampoo
    • bathroom tissue
    • washcloths
    • Bible story books for children
    • diapers, all sizes
    • school supplies

     

     

    CPT Jeff Mitchell
    32 Brave Trail
    Cameron, NC 28326
    (910) 709-2354
    chaplainmitchell@gmail.com 

    I am an army chaplain. I reach out with the love of Jesus to soldiers and their families. Soldiers frequently have to move from one installation to another. They are often lonely and need help finding a church community. I help provide ministry in places where pastors cannot go and churches do not exist.

    • gift cards: Walmart, Target, Family Christian Stores, LifeWay
    • copies of The Love Dare, by Stephen and Alex Kendrick
    • copies of Basic Christianity, by John Stott
    • copies of Mere Christianity, by C. S. Lewis
    • copies of Knowing God, by J. I. Packer
    • DVDs of the movie Fireproof 
    • Armor of God military coins (http://store.fortamerica.com/arofgodwaco.html)

     

    Chris Nuss
    3914 15th St.
    Gulfport, MS 39501
    (228) 868-8202
    gccm07@bellsouth.net
    http://www.gulfcoastministry.net 

    Gulf Coast Community Ministries reaches out to meet the needs of people in the Gulf Coast area. Many people here are homeless and need money to buy food and medicine. We provide a food pantry, a clothing ministry, a homelessness prevention program, a literacy program, and a free medical clinic. As we meet needs we share the love of Christ with each person who comes to us for help.

    • Walmart gift cards
    • school supplies
    • copy paper
    • soap—any size or type
    • shampoo
    • socks—all sizes
    • disposable razors
    • insect repellant
    • toothbrushes
    • toothpaste

     

    Greg and Mia Pendarvis
    Victory Sports Outreach
    1110 Doby Ct.
    Fort Mill, SC 29715
    (803) 389-7481
    (803) 389-9181
    vso@comporium.net
    http://www.victorysportsoutreach.org 

    Victory Sports Outreach (VSO) uses sports to share the good news of Jesus Christ. We reach out with the gospel through sports camps, clinics, mission trips, speaking engagements, and missions conferences throughout the Southeast, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York, as well as Israel, Ukraine, Jamaica, and Ecuador.

    We offer baseball, basketball, flag football, cheer, volleyball, Ultimate Frisbee, and disc golf, plus Conquer League for special needs children. We use salvation-colored balls and bracelets to share the gospel. We also offer vacation Bible schools, and run a van ministry for underprivileged children in our area.

    We provide over 350 sports scholarships each year to children from single-parent and low-income homes, and to children whose parents have lost their jobs.  

    • baseballs (Incrediball or other brand)
    • basketballs
    • footballs
    • volleyballs
    • prepaid gasoline cards
    • VISA gift cards*

    *We will use these cards to purchase Bibles, sports equipment, salvation bracelets, and supplies for VBS summer camps. 

     

    Randy Pool
    letters ONLY: Mississippi River Ministry; PO Box 470; Trenton, TN 38382
    packages ONLY: Mississippi River Ministry; 1275 US 45N By-Pass; Trenton, TN 38382
    (731) 431-7101
    mrmoftn@bellsouth.net
    http://www.riverministry.com 

    The Mississippi River Ministry serves the Mississippi Delta region in west Tennessee—a region marked by severe poverty. We reach out to meet the physical and spiritual needs of people in this area. We also work to connect churches with people in need. 

    • Walmart gift cards
    • shampoo (sample size)
    • toothbrushes
    • toothpaste (sample size)
    • soap (sample size)
    • deodorant (roll-on, small)
    • combs
    • hairbrushes
    • wool socks (adult sizes for men and women)
    • brown cotton work gloves (adult)
    • New Testaments

    Lou Ann Raughton
    Hope Community Church
    2403 East South Blvd.
    Montgomery, AL 36116
     

    (334) 235-2634
    lraughton@knology.net
    http://www.thecommunityofhope.com 

    The Community of Hope Ministry Helps Others Prepare for Eternity. We help families in need through our clothing and food ministries. We help senior adults who can’t afford food and clothing after they pay their rent. We have Backyard Bible Clubs, evangelistic block parties, and after-school tutoring. We also have a furniture ministry. We organize weekly Bible studies. We use every resource—from a bag of food to a pencil to a grilled hot dog or a bed to sleep on—to reach people for Christ.

    • gift cards: Walmart, LifeWay, Family Christian Stores
    • wide-rule paper
    • 3-prong folders with pockets
    • pencils
    • glue sticks
    • Bibles: large print and children’s
    • powdered laundry detergent (large-size Sam’s brand works well)
    • soap
    • deodorant
    • toothpaste
    • toothbrushes
    • shampoo
    • portable electric heaters and fans
    • blankets: all sizes
    • towel- or sheet sets: all sizes
    • diapers (sizes 2–5)
    • baby wipes
    • ziplock bags: quart, gallon
    • X-large, heavy-duty trash sizes

     

    Ginger Smith
    Mission Centers of Houston
    1815 Gano Street
    Houston, TX 77009
    (713) 227-0304 (ext. 104)
    info@missioncenters.org
    http://www.MissionCenters.org 

    Mission Centers of Houston serves three impoverished neighborhood in Houston’s inner city. We provide over 25 ministries every week, including after-school programs for kids and teens, English classes, Christian Women’s Job Corps®, senior adult ministry, food and clothing distribution, and more. Your gifts will help children who attend our after-school programs, homeless men and women, and families in our community.

    • deodorant (men’s and women’s)
    • toothpaste
    • toothbrushes
    • shampoo
    • juice boxes (Capri Sun, Juicy Juice, etc.)*
    • new underwear (children, teen, and adult sizes)
    • pop-top canned vegetables
    • ziplock bags (quart and gallon sizes)
    • toilet paper
    • new socks (children, teen, and adult sizes)

    *or, Sam’s or Walmart gifts cards to purchase these  

    Bill Viel
    First Baptist Church
    200 South Church St.
    Rocky Mount, NC 27804 

    (252) 995-2021 (C)
    (252) 200-4212 (H)
    bviel@suddenlink.net 

    We reach out to poor and homeless people in our community through servant evangelism outreach projects. We will use these items to provide supplies for the needy and homeless, school supplies for needy children, and supplies for our after-school ministry, music ministry, and mission ministry. We are also starting a caregivers-support ministry.

    • gift cards: Walmart, LifeWay
    • school supplies
    • disposable diapers
    • baby outfits
    • socks (new, all sizes)
    • undergarments (new, all sizes)
    • blankets
    • twin-size sheets
    • pillowcases
    • pony beads (black, red, white, green, yellow, blue)

     

     Debbie Wohler
    PO Box 7452
    390 Fairway Dr.
    Tahoe City, CA 96145 

     (530) 583-1534 (Pacific Standard Time)
    debbiewohler@charter.net
    http://www.tahoeministries.com 

    We reach out to people at a resort area with the good news of Jesus. We offer several ministries for children and families: before- and after-school programs, My Morning Out, Parent’s Night Out, and Big A Club. An average of 100 children attend our programs each day. About 80 percent of these children are from families who do not attend a church. We also hold church services at seven ski areas. With your gifts we will buy craft supplies, educational supplies, snacks, and paper products for our ministries.

    •  gift cards: Walmart, Costco
    •  used ink jet cartridges, cell phones, and laser toners*

    *Do not send these items to Debbie directly. Visit http://www.tahoeministries.com/empties.php to find out how to get free shipping and boxes for these items. Money from these items will be used to provide housing for future ministry staff. 

     

    Chris and Lori Wright
    Illinois Baptist State Association and Crossroads Church Planting Center
    0N026 Stanley St.
    Winfield, IL 60190 

    (217) 720-4722
    chriswright@ibsa.org 

    We work with the Illinois Baptist State Association as church-planting strategists for the Chicago region. We recruit, train, and coach church planters in our area. Our church planters represent house churches, international churches, ethnic churches, neighborhood-transformation churches, city-center churches, college churches, and post-prison churches. Planting a church can be very lonely and demands a lot from the entire family. We support and encourage church-planting families in our area through monthly times of fellowship, food, and prayer. Your gifts will allow us to provide materials and resources to assist these church planters in growing their new churches and help their ongoing ministry projects.  

    • gift cards: McDonalds, Burger King, Starbucks, Walmart, Office Depot, OfficeMax  
    • copies of The Cost of Discipleship, by Dietrich Bonhoeffer*
    • copies of Desiring God, by John Piper*
    • copies of Experiencing God, by Henry Blackaby*
    • Bibles (NIV or ESV)*
    • paper (printer and construction) 
    • crayons
    • pens
    • balls
    • Frisbees
    • jump ropes
    • craft supplies for kids’ ministries
    • soap (sample size or regular)
    • toothbrushes
    • toothpaste (sample size or regular)
    • combs
    • deodorant
    • phone cards

    * Or, LifeWay gift cards to purchase these. 

     

    Global Maritime Ministries, Inc. 
    c/o Philip Vandercook 
    3635 Tchoupitoulas St.
    New Orleans, LA 70115
    Philip@portministry.com
    (504) 895-2028 

    Port Chaplains in the New Orleans area minister to seafarers who sail into the Mississippi River. They provide a safe place for seafarers while in port where they can phone family, work on the Internet, play games, or just sit and talk. Many of these seafarers come from countries that are closed to international missionaries. When they come into our seafarer centers, chaplains are free to five them Bibles, pray with them, and share the gospel with them. The items listed will be given to seafarers, and literally open the doors for chaplains to be able to share the gospel. Chaplains give Blessing Bags filled with these items as a way of showing Christ's love.

    • gift cards: Walmart, Office Depot, Home Depot, Lowe's
    • Fireproof and Facing the Giants DVDs
    • large-sized toothpaste
    • men's deodorant
    • soap bars
    • disposable razors
    • shampoo
    • men's white T-shirts (S,M, L sizes only)
    • men's white crew socks (no tube socks)
    • men's boxers or briefs (S, M sizes only)
    • paper products
    • 9-inch dessert plates
    • foam dinner plates
    • 8-ounce coffee cups

    Bessie McPeek
    God’s Love from a Diaper Bag
    PO Box 1084
    9757 Hwy 805, Main Street
    Jenkins, KY 41537
    (606) 832-4008

    God’s Love from a Diaper Bag supplies diapers, hygiene items, school supplies, baby items, new toys for Christmas give-away. We have over 700 children at our Christmas give-away and serve hundreds each month. We have found gift cards are less expensive to ship and we can buy items as needed.

    • disposable diapers
    • wipes
    • gift cards from Wal-Mart, Target, Visa, or MasterCard
    • baby items
    • toys for Christmas party
    • school supplies
    • New Testaments
    • towels and washcloths
    • hygiene products
    • lice treatment
    • socks
    • underwear

    Daphne Nicely
    Atlanta Pregnancy Resource Center
    3983 LaVista Road, Suite #108
    Tucker, GA 30084
    (770) 723-0772
    daphneAPRC@bellsouth.net

    Atlanta Pregnancy Resource Center (APRC) is a nonprofit agency serving women and families in pregnancy-related situations (i.e. unplanned, unwanted, and otherwise “crisis” type pregnancies). We offer free and confidential pregnancy testing and limited obstetrical ultrasound for qualifying patients. APRC provides honest answers, relevant information, tangible assistance, emotional support, and spiritual encouragement for our clients their families. We have an “Earn as You Learn” program which offers parents the opportunity to receive education in subjects such as prenatal care; newborn care; early childhood development; lactation; newborn, infant and toddler care; health, safety and first aid—including SIDS education. By participating in the program, parents earn coupons which they are able to redeem in our Baby Shoppe for items needed by the child and mother during pregnancy and within the first year after the child’s birth (i.e. baby clothes, diapers, wipes, formula, toiletries; gift cards will be used to purchase these items).

    APRC is committed to standing in the gap for the unborn and reaching out in genuine love to a generation that has lost its biblical foundation for the sanctity of life. Through the truth and compassion of Jesus Christ, we offer services that empower women and families to make informed and positive choices for themselves and their children.

    • baby bottles and nipples, various sizes (preemie, 0–12 months), styles, and brands
    • baby wipes
    • baby-bottle brushes
    • Bibles (NKJV preferred)
    • diapers, various sizes NB–5
    • gift cards to Wal-Mart or Target
    • New Testament Bibles (NKJV preferred)
    • pacifiers, preemie, 0–12 months, various styles and brands
    • sleepers, 0–12 months (flame retardant)

    Chaplain Gordon Pugh, Children’s Hospital
    Mail to:
    Christmas in August
    1509 3rd Avenue South
    Birmingham, AL 35233
    (205) 939-9094
    gordon.pugh@chsys.org

    Chaplain Gordon Pugh tells sick and injured boys and girls about God’s love at Children’s Hospital in Birmingham, Alabama. He ministers to children who are from one day to 21 years old. Some are sick from birth while others get sick or hurt later. He reminds them of God’s love and helps them find courage and hope. He listens to their faith. He also helps their parents and families discover God’s love and care even in the midst of sickness.

    Please note: For infection control reasons, all items must be new and unopened. 

    • $5, $10, or $20 Visa or MasterCard gift cards for helping children and parents who are in the hospital for a long time buy basic needs and supplies
    • Honeyword Bibles (If you would like to make this wonderful children’s study Bible available for “Making God’s Word Stick” for a sick or injured child, please please contact Gordon.Pugh@chsys.org directly. Bibles are $28 each.)
    • Bible on CD, any version
    • inspirational books on CD (such as the Chronicles of Narnia, for children or for adults)
    • children’s music on CD
    • children’s movies on DVD
    • portable CD players
    • 8-, 10-, or 12-pack crayons
    • 8-, 10-, or 12-pack washable markers
    • coloring/activity books (Christian or secular) for different ages
    • socks, pajamas, underwear for children and teens, all sizes—small to 2X large

    Tommy Thomas
    River Valley Baptist Association
    PO Box 3599
    Kingman, AZ 86402
    (928) 753-9262 office
    (928) 279-9904 cell
    rivervalleymissionary@gmail.com     

    www.rbva.net

    Thank you for including River Valley Baptist Association in Christmas in August 2011. We are very excited about this opportunity.
    River Valley Baptist Association is a missions network of 25 churches in the northwest Arizona-Colorado River area. We have churches located in small metropolitan cities as well as rural and resort areas. In the last 16 years, God has blessed us with the addition of 12 new churches. Our association also has a very active chaplaincy ministry at our truck stop and Arizona State Prison. Annual missions projects include a ministry to snowbirds in Quartzsite, Arizona, ministry at the River Run Biker’s Rally in Bullhead City, Arizona, and extensive Native American ministry with the Hualapai and Havasupai tribes. You can check out more information about the vision and strategies of our association at www.rvba.net. Peach Springs Elementary School in the Hualapai Native American community of Peach Springs will be the recipients of items collected.

    • 3-by-5 and 4-by-6 index cards (white)
    • calculators
    • construction paper
    • Expo markers (all colors)
    • facial tissue
    • gift cards from JoAnn’s, Wal-Mart, Amazon.com
    • glue sticks
    • hand sanitizer
    • meter sticks (metric and standard markings)
    • overhead transparency film
    • pencil bags (with zipper)
    • pencil cap erasers or flat pink erasers
    • plastic sheet protectors
    • sets of dominoes (for math)
    • soft toothbrushes
    • transparent tape (dispenser refills)
    • wooden rulers (metric and standard markings)

    Sharon Fields-McCormick, MSC missionary
    c/o Clairmont Baptist Church 

    3528 Clairmont Road NE 

    Atlanta, GA 30319 

    (678) 313-3966 

    sfieldsmccormick@bellsouth.net 

    http://jackandsharon.blogspot.com
     

    As an MSC missionary based in Atlanta, I have opportunities to speak in churches across the nation about the sex trafficking of children—how to minister to the victims and also to the offenders who are within our congregations. I also am involved in several health ministries. My husband (also an MSC missionary) and I both are involved in disaster relief and construction ministry. One project this summer is building an accessible house for a family who has a 13-year-old child with special needs. Because God has allowed us to be a part of several different ministry projects, our list is varied. If you have any questions, please email me at sfieldsmccormick@bellsouth.net.

     

    Items Needed 

    • Gift cards to be used for children (Target, Walmart, Publix, Kroger)

    • School supplies

    • Health supplies (diabetes testing supplies, gloves, adhesive bandages, alcohol wipes)

    • Lowe’s and Home Depot gift cards (for construction ministry and disaster relief)

    • Gas cards and fast food cards (for all the travel to/from ministry sites)

    • Folding umbrellas

    • Gift cards for LifeWay, Family Christian Stores, or Berean Christian Stores

    • M&Ms (purely selfish, for me!)