The holidays are upon us. Next week we celebrate Thanksgiving and then “very soon it will be Christmas Day.” As Kentucky Baptists we find ourselves once again in the midst of Christmas backpack deliveries to churches and ministries. Boys and girls across the state will be blessed as backpacks YOU packed will be distributed to children in need.
Backpack applications were sent out in February, just prior to COVID-19, and we had requests for 17,350. In a year that has been anything but “normal” we did not know what this year might look like as far as collecting the backpacks, or even how ministries might be able to distribute them which, I might say, is still being worked out.
Our Kentucky Baptist Convention goal for 2020 was to fill 10,000 backpacks, knowing that we would also receive many from partnering states. Every year I get a little nervous thinking we may not get enough backpacks to fill all the requests but this year, with churches not having in-person services for several months, I was particularly concerned. Just a few short weeks ago it looked as though we would only have about half of the backpacks that were requested.
At the end of last week, the deadline for backpacks to be dropped off at our three regional sites, Kentucky churches had donated approximately 5,000 backpacks and another 7,900 were committed from our partnership state conventions. This gave us an approximate total of 12,900, still about 4,450 backpacks short. But our needs seem to be met.
Again, due to COVID, some of our distribution sites will not be able to have their normal outreach events and, as a result, have gotten fewer requests. With our adjusted numbers, we now have the backpacks to meet the needs of our churches and ministries.
I often think, “oh, me of little faith.” Over and over again God provides just what we need. So, I say, “Thank You, God. Thank You, Kentucky Baptists. And Thank You partnering state convention churches and associations that gave backpacks so that many boys and girls will have a blessed Christmas.”
Pray with us that not only will the children receive a nice Christmas gift in the form of a backpack, but that the Gospel message will be shared, and many will come to know Christ as their personal Savior and receive the GREATEST GIFT this Christmas season.
May each of you have a Happy Thanksgiving and a very Merry Christmas!!
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