Saturday, December 22nd will never be forgotten in the minds and hearts of many. God’s love was very apparent at Morningside on that day. Designated as the day for our Christmas Community Celebration Outreach, the local area had been blanketed with radio advertising and distribution of flyers announcing this event. It had taken many days of preparation and hard work by our staff and wonderful volunteers to get ready for this project.

However, we really didn’t know how many would respond to this outreach effort. The ministry decided to over-plan rather than risk someone going without a blessing. Pastor Jim and Lori were thrilled when over 500 people showed up! Let’s face it – true love is shown through our actions and caring for others. God’s great love permeated the atmosphere that day.

Pastors Jim and Lori have always had a heart for helping the needy. God’s love for people was very obvious and lives were greatly affected by this community outreach. As each family member registered, they were given a ticket for a free drawing. Guests then proceeded to the scrumptious breakfast smorgasbord which included eggs, biscuits & gravy, bacon, sausage, fruit, cereal, donuts, drinks, etc.

The Morningside Band created a wonderful atmosphere of praise, worship and celebration. Entertainment consisted of beautiful Christmas music sung by our own Tammy Sue, Kevin Shorey and Kimberly Patrick.

Pastor Jim and Lori welcomed the guests and emphasized that keeping Christ in Christmas was the most important thing. He explained the order of events and later conducted the prize drawing. Families were encouraged to share the Christmas story in Luke 1 and 2 as part of their celebration at home. Pastor Clete Snellenberger prayed for the guests and invited them to participate and commit to keeping Christ in Christmas. He admonished everyone to remember whose birthday it really was.

Squeals of delight and excitement were heard throughout the give-away as winning ticket numbers were drawn. Over 20 bicycles were given away! Other prizes included a George Foreman grill, a 32-inch flat screen TV, MP3 Players, skate boards, fishing poles, Barbie dolls, remote-controlled toy trucks, crockpots, survival food buckets, Seychelle water products and too many others to list.

Winners of the drawings were seen running through the crowd to claim their gifts. Smiles of joy and thankfulness were everywhere. After the drawing, each family received a gift bag from the ministry and then proceeded to the Chapel.

Morningside Chapel had been converted into a huge gift store. Gifts were sorted by appropriate age categories and families were personally escorted by volunteers through the gift shop. Old and young alike began choosing presents. Our photographer, Mark Graham, observed the faces of many children lighting up with excitement as they selected their gift. Celebration and joy spread throughout the crowd and laughter was everywhere.

The next stop was the food distribution area where each family received a dehydrated food box along with canned goods. Some individuals were so overcome with God’s goodness that they were seen crying out of gratefulness. It seemed as if Heaven had opened up and poured out blessings. Many said that they would not have had a Christmas without the gifts and food they received from Morningside Church.

Thank you, partners and viewers, for your generous contributions which helped to make this outreach possible. You are part of a ministry which not only preaches the Gospel, but practices it as well. Our pastoral staff was also able to pray with several families. Truly it was a momentous day, not only for the visitors, but for the staff and volunteers as well.

And special thanks to Pastor Jim and Lori for having a heart after God. You truly display God’s heart with unbelievable generosity. You are an example of God’s love in action for all of humanity.