January 25, 2010
Christmas 2009 may have come and gone quickly, but compassionate acts of kindness and generosity by Alliance people through Christmas outreaches will not soon be forgotten. Alliance congregations across the country went beyond the four walls of their churches to take the message of the Christ Child into their communities.
In Columbia, South Carolina, Columbia Crossroads Downtown took part in a number of outreaches within the community, one being with a clinic across the street from the church. The clinic helps to meet the medical needs of children with debilitating diseases and disorders who also live in poverty. “We helped host a Christmas party for the kids and their families,” says Chris Gerlach, who pastors Crossroads. “Our hope is to build on the relationship and minister to them on a regular basis.”
Just up the road in Charlotte, North Carolina, the First Alliance Church of Charlotte is poised for their inaugural service on February 14. But the young congregation made its mark on the community before its opening when it partnered with a local school and Charlotte Firefighters Association to host a Christmas event that benefitted more than 50 families. “We served dinner, shared gifts and the love of Jesus with [these families],” says Carlos Velez, who pastors the Alliance church. “Volunteers from the community helped, as well as our sister church, theGathering, from Ft. Mill (South Carolina). Pastor Scott led attendees and volunteers in singing Christmas songs.”
Pastor Scott Morrison, who co-leads theGathering with Derrick Bucy, also led his church into the Ft. Mill community to shine the light of Jesus into some of the poorest areas of the city. “We have several opportunities to serve our community,” says Scott, “by continuing our monthly commitment to serve a meal to the hungry.” Home groups or “houseGatherings” continue to grow. “We are excited about partnering with Sandhills (Alliance) Church in Columbia and rejoice in what God is doing!”
Thirty-three people prayed to receive Jesus during a three-day Christmas outreach hosted by Iglesia Cristiana Encuentro con Dios in Cornelia, Georgia. “We were able to distribute 116 children’s gifts and 37 food baskets,” says Pastor Tim Hixson, who credits the prayers and support of two local churches, Central Alliance in Mt. Airy and Iglesia de Cristo (non-Alliance) from Norcross. Food baskets, which came from the Toccoa Falls College faculty as well as the churches, were distributed on the evening of December 24. “After the worship service, we rejoiced to see many praying and crying out to the Lord for forgiveness and salvation.”
“These stories from the South Atlantic District are representative of what outwardly focused Alliance churches are doing all over this land as they concentrate on meeting needs in their local communities and opening doors for the message of the Gospel,” says Rev. John Soper, director for Church Ministries. As Alliance congregations continue to go into their communities with practical demonstrations of Jesus love, those walking in darkness will turn to the Light.