Christmas Box Outreach Testimonies & Pics

I want to start out with a loud shout of “Thanks!” to all who gave finances and to those  who prayed.- “Thank you!” 

This was our eight annual Christmas Outreach-they are all special- this one was no exception. It really is an awesome time to go out and be a blessing this time of year as we celebrate the birth of Jesus. So many people in America are wrapped up into the commercial side of Christmas. This is why I especially love reminding everyone we meet that it’s about a living Savior who was born and grew up and lived a sinless life to be the sacrifice for our sins, those who cry out to Him and repent. Amen.

We had an incredible time ministering to seventeen families. We targeted needy families, (many single mothers with kids) we prearranged the delivery of these boxes so we could go right to their homes. We do it this way, so we can spend some quality time with each family- to minister to them; offering prayer, sharing the real meaning of Christmas, sharing the Gospel, loving on the people- It’s an incredible opportunity.

By the way, we loaded these boxes up! We put everything in them for a family time meal. We did the math and every box came to around $30.00. (Again, a big shout of thanks to those who gave financially). We also put some gifts in these boxes for the kids and teens and we offered everyone a Bible.

The Boxes were loaded up!

17 Blessed Christmas Boxes!!

Also, we tackled the elements as well, we got nailed with several inches of snow, but that didn’t stop us, it actually added to the Christmas event.

Christmas Box Weather!!...amen!

A big thanks to Andy, Corrie, and Parker VanArsdale for their help delivering five of the boxes also a shout out to my comrade & brother in Christ Lance Prathaftakis who is always more than eager to share the love of  Jesus! We all had a great time ministering.

All of the families we talked to were so thankful for the Christmas Box. Some of the people we met were followers of Christ and we were able to exhort and encourage them in their walk with the Lord. We met many who were seeking God and had a lot of questions- we ministered, we loved on them and testified of Jesus-sharing with them as the Holy Spirit was leading us. We gave out many Bibles and encouraged those who received Bibles to talk to God and read His Word.

Some Testimonies:

The whole day was marvelous and each encounter is unique and a story in and of itself. Lance, Parker and myself went to twelve separate homes/apartments here are a few of the encounters:

 One lady named faith- cried out to Jesus for forgiveness of sins and to be her Lord & Savior! She had a couple of teen age sons; it was so awesome seeing them watch her Mother cry out to Jesus. The young guys took Bibles and were encouraged.

A Soul won to Jesus!

 One apartment we entered had a single mom with 4 little boys. Her name was Kasha and we spent some time ministering to her. She was struggling as a single Mom with four little boys. She said she knew the Lord. We encouraged her to stay connected with other believers and to keep close to Jesus. It is so sad to see many of these young woman with all these children with no father around. It breaks your heart.

An Awesome family!

We ministered to a sweet little lady named Jeanette, we crossed paths by accident and she was sharing her situation and struggles to make ends meet. We had an extra Christmas Box an we were stirred to bless her. So we joined her in her apartment sharing and ministering to her for a while. She was so grateful and she was so appreciative as tears of thanks flowed from her eyes. Amen!

Jeanette was so thankful to receive a Christmas box

 Another apartment we went into had several families in it. There was some great dialog in there as many people were asking questions and desiring to know more about Jesus. In fact, the longer we were there the more people started showing up. The little kids had tons of energy, and it got hectic at times with so many talking at once, but it was a blessing being with them. We testified, shared Christ, prayed with everyone and handed out several Bibles in this apartment.

We had an awesome time with all of these folk!

We also ministered to these families: Roberto, Arthur, Tatiana, Mike, Ella, Shania and many either knew the Lord or weren’t quite ready to call out to him this day but they were blessed and seen the tangible love of Christ as we blessed them sowed into them.

 Probably the highlight of the day came for us at Linda’s apartment. She was an elderly very needy lady and so thankful that we came. As we walked into her small apartment we noticed several other people seated around the kitchen table. They were blasting some Marvin Gaye music- so it wasn’t the easiest to talk. You almost had to shout to be heard. We carried the Christmas Box in and as we set it in the kitchen and as we talked for minute- and this one big fellow who was seated at the table grabbed my arm and started pulling me toward himself. As I got a good look at him I could see he was weeping. I bent down to him to try to hear him (over the Marvin Gay music), he kept saying between sob’s, “I’m running from God- I’m hiding from the Lord.”

 

Great Encounter with these people...PTL!

There were three people, including this big fellow named LaRosa, seated around the kitchen table. They were all playing cards, drinking beer and listening to Marvin Gaye. Ha!.. You just never know what you will encounter on these type of outreaches. So as LaRosa- was weeping, the other fellow started sharing that he used to hang out at the Salvation Army. The gal at the table remained quite the whole time we were there.

Lance and I turned loose on the group exhorting to them the Lord’s goodness as we turn from our sins and go after God. Both Lance and I testified of our wretched pasts and how God set us free, delivered us and made us brand new!. The good part is he will do the same for you! By this time, someone had turned the music down to the point where we didn’t have to shout -Praise the Lord! We then had LaRosa stand up and we laid hands on him and lead him in a prayer of repentance calling out to God for forgiveness. It was a beautiful! We embraced and prayed over them all… just simply sharing the love of Christ!

Thanks for reading this. Thanks for your prayers and support. I am so looking forward to what the Lord has in store next…God bless you all

Steve