Now thats what Im talking about!
The following is an article reported in the Kansas City Star of one church the provided a special gift to a needy family in their church. Take a look at the article:Church's charity goes to 'Xtreme'.
Byline: Deann Smith, The Kansas City Star, Mo.
Dec. 19--Sitting among the congregation of BreakPointe Community Church on Sunday, 12-year-old Hannah Wastland knew her father would talk about her difficult journey to get her new liver in October.
Hannah's father, John Wastland, is pastor of another Kansas church, Osawatomie Wesleyan. On Sunday, he stood before the BreakPointe congregation, giving a testimonial at the 8:30 a.m. service. Hannah thought that the piles of presents on the stage of the Overland Park church were for a Christmas play.
When two "ang-elves," complete with white robes and Christmas caps, pulled a toy wagon toward her, Hannah giggled. Then her expression turned to one of stunned amazement when the Rev. Tom Kinnan explained that the wagon was filled with presents -- including a $500 gift card -- for Hannah and her family.
"I'm so thankful," Hannah whispered afterward.
Giving thanks and celebrating the true spirit of Christmas were the inspirations behind BreakPointe's "Xtreme Christmas," with about $25,000 worth of gifts -- including clothes, toys, a used car and a college scholarship -- given to 22 families and individuals during two services Sunday.
The initial impetus for "Xtreme Christmas" was Oprah Winfrey's talk show and ABC's "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition."
"We were inspired by Oprah when she gave away 276 cars," Kinnan, BreakPointe's senior pastor, told the congregation at the 8:30 service.
Thus, BreakPointe Charities was born in 2004, and "Xtreme Christmas" debuted last December. In two years, the charity has raised money or received corporate support for gifts valued in the tens of thousands of dollars, including vehicles, a refurbished motor home and groceries.
Fewer than half of the families that received gifts Sunday were members of the church at 10001 W. 88th St. Kinnan said that the church believes it is vital to support the entire community and not just its congregation.
Some of the recipients either knew or suspected that they would receive gifts. Others had no clue.
Some of the requests were poignant in their humility. A mother of six requested toilet paper and didn't ask for any toys for her children. She got the toilet paper, plus groceries. And each child got at least one gaily wrapped toy.
Eric Day of Olathe, who had his two toddlers in tow, had seen other families receive their wrapped presents. So he knew what was coming when Kinnan called him to the stage and told the story of his wife's struggles against liposarcoma, a cancer that develops from fat cells, and of debilitating treatments at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Texas.
Day was overcome when Kinnan announced that the church would pay his January and February mortgage bills, totaling $2,400.
"We knew God would help us out," he said.
------------
To reach DeAnn Smith, call (816) 234-4412 or send e-mail to dsmith@kcstar.com.
Copyright (c) 2005, The Kansas City Star, Mo.
Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.
For information on republishing this content, contact us at (800) 661-2511 (U.S.), (213) 237-4914 (worldwide), fax (213) 237-6515, or e-mail reprints@krtinfo.com.
COPYRIGHT 2005 The Kansas City Star
posted by Rev. Rick Carder '87 / ' 03 @ 8:06 PM
<< Home