By Joe Sorah
Compassion Ministries Specialist, TBMB
If there was a way to share the gospel with Tennessee’s impoverished children, would you be interested in joining the effort? If so, keep reading!
In 2001, a Georgia GA group wanted to do something for children in Appalachia for Christmas. They filled 300 shoe boxes with gifts for needy children. From that humble beginning, the Christmas Backpack Ministry was launched.
Joe Sorah
Beginning in 2003, churches in other states began sending shoe boxes to Tennessee’s needy children. Between 2003 and 2011, approximately 6,500 shoe boxes were given to Tennessee children. With the change to backpacks in 2012, the program took off like a rocket launching into space. Between 2012 and 2017, approximately 87,000 backpacks were given to Tennessee children. During these years, around 3,000 children have made professions of faith as the gospel is shared with each child.
Upon learning of this ministry and that Tennessee had never been asked to donate backpacks, I knew it was time for a change. God has blessed many of us in Tennessee beyond measure. Surely we could give Christmas backpacks to needy children in Tennessee in addition to the other things we do during Christmas. If children and families are being saved through this ministry I know many of us Tennesseans would want to be involved in such an important ministry.
We need churches to commit to give Christmas backpacks. We need to know how many backpacks Tennessee can furnish so that backpacks from our sister states can go to other needy children. To commit to donate Christmas Backpacks, go to www.tnbaptist.org/backpacks.
All of the information is there — what to include in the backpacks, where and when to take your backpacks, etc. At this writing, we need over 4,000 more backpacks to fill our needs in Tennessee.
If you can help, please sign up. If you have any questions, please contact Joe Sorah at [email protected] or at 423-895-1482.
It is not too late to make a difference in a child’s life this Christmas.