Tennessee Baptist Convention churches provided a record 7,540 Christmas Backpacks this year, surpassing the ministry’s goal of 7,000 backpacks.
With a lot of people still recovering from the impact of Hurricane Helene in northeast Tennessee, the extra backpacks are needed, affirmed Beth Moore, compassion ministry specialist for the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board.
RELATED: For more stories on Disaster Relief efforts, click here.
“Going into our collection week this year, I really had no idea what to expect. I anticipated we may have fewer backpacks, knowing that so many churches had been donating for flood relief,” Moore said.
“I was hoping we would have enough to fulfill our requests this year and then have some extra to help one or two churches with a few backpacks,” she added.
Tennessee Baptists joined Christmas Backpacks (a nationwide ministry) in 2018. That year, roughly 150 Tennessee churches participated, and provided more than 3,500 backpacks. The number of backpacks and participating churches has grown steadily since its beginning. Last year Tennessee Baptists collected 6,905 backpacks.
The ministry provides backpacks filled with toys, clothing, hygiene items, food and other items to children in low-income families and serves as a means of outreach and evangelism for participating churches, Moore noted.
“We are going to be able to partner with churches in Erwin, Jonesborough, Newport and Carter and Johnson counties,” she said.
“I am so excited churches that have never given out backpacks are going to be able to host an event this year. One church is planning a birthday party for Jesus when they give out their backpacks.
“Because Tennessee Baptists gave so generously, these churches will be able share the hope of Christmas after such a devastating time.”
Zealous
Shiloh Baptist Church in Mount Juliet is one of 165 TBC churches that provided backpacks this year. The church currently meets in the Missions Mobilization Center of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board.
Shiloh members prepared and donated over 70 backpacks — 1% of the statewide goal, said pastor Stephen Young.
“How fitting is it that our church meets in the Missions Mobilization Center and has worship in the TBMB disaster relief warehouse? It beautifully illustrates how Tennessee Baptists are making an impact, even in challenging circumstances,” he said.
Young is in his first year as pastor of Shiloh and this is his first time to view the ministry up close. “I was so impressed with the ministry itself, and with the thought, care, prayer, time and money that our church members poured into each backpack. They shopped for them as though they were buying gifts for their own children,” Young observed.
“Our people are so zealous for missions and compassion ministry. This was truly a picture of what ‘love your neighbor’ looks like,” the pastor added.
Moore is grateful for the growth of the backpack ministry but she has higher goals and dreams for the ministry.
“We want to see more churches building relationships with unchurched families in their communities and then partnering with us to distribute these backpacks at Christmas,” she noted.
“I would love to see every association having an event where churches partner together to host an event and share Christ with children and families in their communities.”
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Lonnie Wilkey and originally published by Baptist and Reflector.
