NATIONAL MISSIONS: MAKING AN IMPACT
In December, the Pentecostal Church of God explored new territory by spreading the net a little wider for our annual Impact Christmas project. For more than a decade and a half the PCG family has brought vital aid, love, and Christ to some of the neediest families in America (located in the Appalachian Mountains) just prior to the Christmas holiday. Due to the massive devastation caused by Hurricane Harvey in recent months, it became apparent that even more people could benefit from such assistance at Christmas time. Through a One Mission—One Movement effort, we were able to bring needed aid to the victims of that disaster simultaneously with Impact Appalachia.
Impact Texas was designed to target Hurricane Harvey’s flood victims (primarily elementary- age children and their families), many of whom were still homeless and displaced. The response from our PCG family was amazing and, through an outpouring of support, the Impact Texas initiative was able to:
• Provide every family with a shopping cart piled to the top of their heads (some had two carts!) with household goods such as appliances, bedding, toiletries, and dishes.
• Fill an entire school library with so much food that everyone got what they needed—and much more.
• Assist parents with shopping for their children so they would be able to give them something on Christmas morning.
• Provide individually wrapped gifts to every child and give away more than 60 brand-new bicycles, plus some nice toys.
What resulted was a great time of celebration and excitement for these kids and their families, which helped alleviate some of the daily pressures they were dealing with due to the flood. Impact Texas said to a hurting, recovering community that we know you are there, we see your hurt, and we want to respond to your need.
Most importantly, the Impact Texas team shared Christ that day. The PCG family continues to be Jesus in skin, and One Mission—One Movement has made a statement: We are here to stay and be the church we were born to be in the book of Acts.
As the PCG National Missions director,
I am excited to be part of such a great group of God’s people, who see the world through the eyes of Christ and recognize the needs of suffering humanity. Giving this world Jesus must remain our goal and ultimate priority; but seeing the needs of hurting people and responding in kind must remain the mission of this movement. How can we win them without helping them, and how will we help them without YOU?
From the depths of my heart, I wish to say to our PCG family who assisted with the Hurricane Harvey recovery efforts, as well as the Impact Appalachia and Impact Texas giving programs, a big and sincere THANK YOU! In addition, please let me remind you of a scripture we should all take note of: “Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and He will reward them for what they have done” (Proverbs 19:7).
Blessings to you all!
Want to see the full article? Check it out in the latest Pentecostal Messenger!
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