Christmas in August Testimonies
Merry Christmas, Appalachia!
 Missionary Bill
Barker has seen the generosity of Southern Baptists for years as a
pastor and missionary. He knows what can happen when men, women, boys,
and girls who love Jesus and want to tell others about Him get started
on a mission project.
But even Bill, who leads
Southern Baptist’s Appalachian Regional Ministry, wasn’t prepared for
what happened when his name was put on the Christmas-in-August list
last year, asking for items like shopping gift cards, hygiene products,
Bibles, and children’s clothing. RAs, GA, and adults and teens in their
churches sent him more than 30 tons of items, $10,000 in shopping gift
cards, and a check for $3,000 to help pay the shipping and storage
costs.
Missionary Bill distributed those items to
churches, ministry centers, and church plants all throughout West
Virginia, Kentucky, southwest Virginia, and Pennsylvania. When several
school districts called in and asked for assistance with school
supplies, he was able to meet those needs by sending the donations
through local churches and ministry centers.
“I was not
prepared—though I thought I was—for the outpouring of love by Southern
Baptists for the children of Appalachia,” missionary Bill wrote. “Even
as I type this note I am weeping and giving praise and thanks to God
for ‘Christmas in August’—for the children who were helped with school
supplies, fed, and the love of Christ that was shared again and again.”
School Supplies for Wisconsin Flood Victims
 Some
may recall the widespread, disastrous flooding in the Midwest region of
the United States in June 2008. As director of Disaster Relief and
Missions for the Minnesota/Wisconsin Convention, missionary David
Wedekind and his wife, Jeanne, were there offering help to the victims
in Wisconsin.
So far they have received 177 mailings
and are using them to minister to the school children who are victims
of the flooding. A church planter in the area went to four schools with
boxes in hand, asking if the children could use school supplies. The
principals’ hearts were so touched they began to cry. They were so
grateful that the children got the much-needed school supplies.
The
gifts will also be used by the Minnesota/Wisconsin Baptist Convention
to aid in any future disasters. The Wedekinds and the children of
Wisconsin say, “Thank you!”
Atlanta Homeless Receive Christmas in August
 Reggie
Robbins ministers to the homeless in Decatur, Georgia, a suburb of
Atlanta. Because of the efforts of those participating in the Christmas
in August project, dwindling supplies for Reggie’s homeless ministries
were replenished and needs met. More than 56 boxes filled with personal
care items and school supplies arrived just in time to provide for the
needs of those in Reggie’s ministries.
Reggie says, “We
had about 56 men at our Set Free Men’s Farm, phase one of our substance
abuse ministry. We had run out of almost all of the personal care
items. Then the first of the Christmas in August gifts came in and, we
were able to replenish supplies. It was a cup-running-over experience.”
Does
Reggie Robbins think Christmas in August touches people? He says, “Yes!
It really makes a difference in touching the lives of people. For
example, with the supplies we received from Christmas in August, we
were able to assist over 285 community children by giving them book
bags full of school supplies, and we gave two of our community schools
extra school supplies for the low-income students.”
Reggie also says, “Thank you.”
Sharing Christ Through Meeting Needs in Canada
My
wife, Marybelle, works at Hope Mission, helping provide basic needs for
over 800 people each night. There is also a children’s ministry
reaching into 5 inner city schools. Because of Christmas in August
gifts, literally thousands of people were helped, and with each gift
people we provided the message of love through Christ.—Missionary Mel
Cruikshank, Toronto, Canada
A Legacy of Missions Giving
 In
2008, I lost my 2 teenage daughters in a car accident. Both had grown
up in GA and Acteens and have participated in Christmas in August
projects throughout their lives. As the gifts for the ministry started
arriving, I was overwhelmed. It reminded me of all the joy we had when
we were a part of giving to Christmas in August. I’m grateful that
those in mission groups can know that they have a part in various
ministries around the country and learn about those missionaries can
change their lives forever. I know my girls’ lives were shaped by being
a part of mission groups and missions opportunities. As far as my work,
Christmas in August gifts allowed me to build relationships and mentor
youth and college students in their relationship and service to Jesus.
Thank you!—Missionary Bonnie Carter, Missouri
RAs deliver Christmas-in-August gifts
During
last year’s Christmas-in-August efforts, the Royal Ambassadors of First
Baptist Church of Ponchatoula, Louisiana, collected old magazines,
hygiene items, and clothing to deliver to Southern Baptist missionaries
Steve and Ann Corbin. But not only did these boys collect the items but
they delivered them as well. The Corbins, who serve in port ministries
in Louisiana, will distribute the items to various sailors as the
missionaries tell them about Jesus.
When the boys
visited the center, they had an opportunity to talk to one sailor in
particular who was visiting. They asked the sailor about his life on
the open seas and whether he was able to hear about Jesus in the
country he was from.
“What I think the RAs learned from
this outing is that there are a lot of people and places in this world
that still do not get to hear about Jesus on a regular basis,” said Rob
Brandon, the boys’ RA leader.
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