The 2012 Christmas project was filled with generous contributors and grateful recipients like no other year before. We had the awesome privilege of assisting the parents of 1540 children with gifts this year. In the midst of the festivities there were tears of sorrow and tears of joy as families shared their needs and rejoiced in the way those needs were met.

Christmas was difficult for many. Several had lost jobs and other had lost loved ones. We delivered gifts to the Tackett house. They spent Christmas in the ICU waiting room this year. Another family struggled with Christmas after three young girls lost their mother and were sent to live with relatives.

Malinda Johnson’s story is not new to those who have been receiving our newsletter. Her youngest daughter was killed in a car accident a few years ago. This past year, Malinda and her husband were saved and it has been exciting to see how God is working in their lives. Malinda wrote these words on a thank you card: “My truest sincerity goes your way. What you have done for my family and other is a blessing. . . Making a smile on my family’s face for years is such a blessing for me and I truly thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

Philip and Samantha Hamilton were being assisted by Ms. Pat Durham from Union Baptist Church. As she walked them out to the car to load gifts and pray with the couple, Philip asked her if she was from the church that brought family Bibles a few years ago. She was touched that they remembered her but more so by the words that came next. “We have the Bible on a table in our living room.” The Bible had a card signed by all the children in Ms. Pat’s children’s program that year. Philip continued to tell her how they prayed for the children by name weekly, even though it was likely some of the children were no longer in the children’s program. Philip and Samantha wrote a thank you card we would like to share with you. “To: All those who have helped us in this time of need. We deeply appreciate all you have done. We hope that God will truly bless you all this upcoming year.” -Philip and Samantha Hamilton and kids, Corbin and Savanah.

Craig Slone

Craig Slone came to the Christmas store with a grim outlook on life. He said his health was bad and he truly believed he would not live much longer. This gave Kathy Henson the opportunity to ask him where his final destination would be if this were to happen. At the conclusion of the conversation, Craig prayed the sinner’s prayer. Then the party started, at the warehouse and in Heaven. Craig left with a smile on his face and some hope for the future, wherever it may lead.

God continued to work in supplying the physical needs and, more importantly, changing lives for all eternity. Tammy Hamilton and Sheila Deal also made professions of faith after hearing the testimony of their personal shopper.

Much of the time it is difficult to measure the impact a ministry truly has because sometimes it is planting a seed. Until the seed begins to penetrate the ground, even the watering can seem worthless. But sometimes God allows us to see the harvest and for that we are sincerely grateful.