This past week, my 6-year-old daughter Poppy was helping me at the Christmas Impact station in the lobby. As we refilled the little white tags on the board, she asked me countless questions about the “give” opportunities we have available: Who are the baby items for? What kinds of toys will people bring? Why do we do this every year? She wanted to know every detail about Christmas Impact and exactly what everything meant.
As we finished with the tags, she stepped back, looked at the boards full of opportunities, investigated the big gift boxes that would soon be filled with items, and got a huge smile on her face. She grabbed my hand, looked up at me, and said, “I’m so glad we’re a helper church.” I couldn’t help but tear up at that simple yet unbelievably sweet sentiment. She couldn’t be more right – we are absolutely a church that helps. This season, we have the opportunity to do just that as we support some of our local Impact partners through giving and serving.
We’re collecting baby items for Life Choices, an incredible faith-based sexual health clinic that works with individuals and families from all walks of life. They believe wholeheartedly in the value and worth of every single person who walks through their doors. To them, choosing life isn’t about politics – it’s about people. They believe every person is created in the image of God, whether they’re a fetus the size of a poppyseed, a terrified pregnant girl unsure of what choice to make, a victim of human trafficking, or a high school student navigating relationship struggles. Life Choices isn’t simply a non-profit organization, and they’re not just a ministry partner. They’re my friends, my co-laborers in the Kingdom, and some of my favorite people in the world. They love people in the most tender and fierce way I’ve ever seen, and it’s a joy to see them make an impact for the gospel every single day. The baby items collected will be used to support new parents who choose life for their baby. It’s not just diapers, wipes, and onesies, it’s a reminder that there is a group of people at a clinic on 7th street that love them deeply, pray for them daily, and believe that God has incredible plans for their lives.
We’re also collecting toys for Watered Gardens, a gospel rescue mission that believes every person has God-given dignity that not only can but must be affirmed by the church. Every year, they set up their Christmas market with a huge selection of brand-new toys, clothes, games, and stocking stuffers and invite the community to come shop for gifts for their children. Instead of paying with money, they pay with their time. Each gift has a “price tag” with a number of minutes that the adult will need to work in order to earn that item, and the exchange rate is extremely generous. I talked with a participating family last year who was so grateful to be able to participate. They were experiencing a financial crisis and weren’t sure how they were going to purchase gifts for their kids until someone told them about Watered Gardens. They couldn’t wait for their kids to open their gifts on Christmas morning and know that they used their God-given abilities to earn the items that they got to pick out specifically for them. Watered Gardens believes that every person, no matter their life story or current situation, is fearfully and wonderfully made, and they show that every single day in our community.
This year, as I watch the toys and baby items pile up in the lobby, I can’t help but think of my sweet girl’s words and join in her gratitude – I’m so glad we’re a helper church.
Christmas Impact
Christmas Impact is an opportunity for you to give and serve alongside our Impact partners during the Advent season. There are two ways to get involved: giving and serving.
