It's the most wonderful time of the year!
I greet every one of our amazing ministry partners in the victorious and overcoming Name and Spirit of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Every time I say that Name, it's like fire shut up in my bones! It really is the most wonderful time of the year; in fact, I have been told that I am more excited about this season than little kids LOL!
If you are like me, this time of the year is different in so many ways. Even with so many crazy things that are going on in our communities and our world, the Christmas season tends to put all those things in the backseat, and replaces them with charity, the spirit of forgiveness, random acts of kindness, goodwill toward our fellow man. Even the air seems different and the spirit seems lighter, and perhaps there is a lifting of man's heart.
I believe it's because we move a bit “back in time” to that night when the stars shone so bright, and it was certainly cold as people were assembling to welcome and bring honor to the One that was not only born to save us, but was also born to suffer and die on a cross.
I am so grateful that He did it for me, because in my worst sin, I always knew I needed a Savior.
Christmas ToyMania
Christmas ToyMania 2024 is here and we, like you, are way excited!! It's our final outreach of 2024 and we always go out with God's richest acts of mercy and love. We are ready to start receiving gifts at our staging area for our amazing kids.
What I love about Christmas ToyMania is that we not only tangibly show them an act of love, but we get to share the Gospel in its purest form.
I am grateful for our staff as they come up with great concepts and Ideas on how to present the Gospel of Jesus Christ and how important it is to receive Him as their Lord and Savior. What is really great is we continue to work with the kids throughout the year and we continue to speak Jesus over them and in their lives.
This year, I am passionately putting the request to you to really give big if you can. We have the honor and privilege to serve 600 students and their families! Many of them won't otherwise receive gifts for Christmas, but we can make sure that they will.
When the parent sees us open the Toy Workshop for their child, the look on their faces is priceless! We have set boundaries for our parents: No parents...only kids and Toy Escorts! The kids always feel special as they are able to select their unique, precious gifts.
I always desire to have many of you volunteer that day to be Toy Escorts so you can see for yourself the look on their faces and the spirit on these kids as they walk through the “Toy Workshop” in amazement, and wonder, wishing they could take all of the toys. We treat the kids and families as honored guests as we share the love of Jesus. It doesn’t end there; we give a small but thoughtful gift to many of the parents, and of course, if you know us, with the gift there is a tract and contact info as we desire to get them tapped into the family of God.
But we absolutely cannot do this without you. We have 600 students - which means that we need a minimum of 600 gifts. And wouldn't it be great if there is such an overflow that the students can select more than one gift?!?
In closing, we don’t have to be angels and sing harmony, and we definitely don’t have to be a wise man on bended knee…we just have to have the heart of Christmas - the heart of Jesus - and I believe it is in you and me. Thank you for your giving. Shari and I are so grateful for your giving unto the Lord and blessing our children of Sandtown-Winchester.
To give the gift of love to a child this Christmas:
Purchase gifts through the Amazon wish list. You will have the option to send it directly to us!
Give a monetary donation, and we will purchase a gift on your behalf.
**Deadline to receive gifts is December 11. For more information, please visit www.ImageMakersMinistries.com.
Will You Join Us?
We need partners in praying, partners in serving, and partners in giving resources. The need is great. The reward is even greater. If you would like to volunteer to serve at ToyMania, please reach out to us today at imagemakersministries@gmail.com, or (301) 760-8736.
Please pray:
That the love of Jesus will be clearly displayed, and souls would give their lives to Christ.
For wisdom in how to effectively share the message of the Gospel.
For ample provision in resources and volunteers.
For a new ministry vehicle - we are presently in the process of searching for a replacement as the current vehicle has become quite unreliable.
On behalf of myself, Shari, and our amazing workers, we are so grateful for you and remain humbled at the love you have expressed through your efforts to help us with the Mission of “the call.”
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