November 29, 2011
Thanksgiving is behind us, the weather has turned cold, and pictures of decorated trees are popping up all over Facebook. Christmastime has definitely arrived! People are ready to listen to carols and start shopping!
Do you find yourself buying an extra gift (or two…or three!) each Christmas, just for the joy of giving? I know I do. I finish up shopping for everything on my list, but then end up picking a few more items simply because I know it will bring a smile to someone’s face. I bet many of you do, too. Am I right? Allow me to suggest that you save an extra gift (or two…or three!) for this year’s Christmas Compassion Offering, which kicks off this weekend and runs through the end of the year. Read on for an introduction to each of the opportunities available during this year’s special offering.
• ORPHAN CARE
Children without families are among the most vulnerable people in our society. This Christmas, we are offering two ways to support orphans by meeting their true, basic needs:
Every year, thousands of teenagers age out of the foster care system without ever being adopted and with very few possessions at all. Through “Simplest of Gifts”, we can provide these teenagers with a basic set of household items they’ll need as they begin the next stage of their lives.
The support PTCC offers the precious kiddos of Casa Hogar Elim, an orphanage in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, is crucial in providing the 110 children there with food, shelter, clothing and other life necessities.
• NORTH TEXAS FAMILIES IN NEED
There are two ways we are supporting local families who need assistance:
Gift cards in various amounts are used throughout the year by our Compassion Team to help bridge the gap, usually when a family needs to put food on their table. Many non-profits are finding the demand exceeding their supplies and we are a place families turn to.
We are partnering with Frisco Cares, a medical clinic that sees families even with no insurance, to provide prescription assistance to patients who otherwise would be leaving the doctor visit without any means to get medicine.
• CLOTHE-A-CHILD
Clothe under-resourced kids in our community as they go back to school next fall by providing $100 (or part of that amount) which will allow the child and his/her family to attend a special shopping event for new clothes and shoes to look and feel their best for the school year.
• UGANDA
PTCC teams partner with Hesed International in Uganda to host conferences for Ugandan pastors. Our teams teach theology, leadership and family care training, while women community leaders are offered Bible study and training in theology , community health and hygiene, and more.
The cost to send one of the Ugandan leaders to a conference is only $125 and is a blessing that will be passed on to their congregations, families and community members. When we help train and resource these local leaders, we are not only going as the hands and feet of Jesus, but also leaving a legacy for generations to come.
• BENEVOLENCE
Our benevolence fund is used to meet critical, one-time needs within our church family. The prolonged economic downturn has affected more people than normal and we want to continue to be a place that stands ready to offer emergency assistance when appropriate.
• CLEAN WATER
It is so easy to take clean water for granted. Here, it is abundant and easy to get. Unfortunately, that is not the case for more than a billion people in this world. Lack of clean water exacerbates many other issues as well. If you’re already sick, then your body is more susceptible to the germs and bacteria in dirty water, making you more ill.
Additionally, the job of fetching the water, which can take several hours a day, is done by youngsters —especially girls—keeping them out of school and away from the education that could improve the health of their family and community. We aim to be a part of the solution to this problem by partnering with Blood:Water Mission to fund a clean water well in northern Uganda.
On top of these options for giving financially, we are excited to offer several ways you can give of yourself this Christmas. Stop by Compassion Central this weekend and see how you can:
- Assist our annual Community Christmas party—where we invite residents of certain local housing units—by signing up to attend, bring food or fill up a grocery bag that will be given as a gift to each family in attendance.
- Give a hand to the homeless in Collin County. We have a list of small care packages that we are making to be distributed during the point-in-time homeless count in January. Interested in learning more about homelessness in our area? Sign up to assist with the count and care package distribution!
- Provide a gift for our international ministries by stopping by the angel tree. Most-needed gifts on the tree this year are new shoes for orphans at Casa Hogar Elim in Mexico and resources for pastors in Uganda.
Contact Nancy or Christine at Compassion@Prestontrail.org if you have any questions. Thank you for being a blessing to others this season. We wish you a very Merry and Joyful Christmas!
Nancy Powell
Compassion Ministry Director
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