FRANKLIN — As the calendar turns over this week from July to August and the weather is still hot and humid, Beth Moore is already looking ahead to Christmas.
Or, more specifically, the Christmas Backpacks ministry, which provides backpacks filled with toys, clothing, hygiene items, food and other items to children in low-income families. It also serves as a means of outreach and evangelism for participating churches.
Moore, compassion ministry specialist for the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board, has seen the enormous impact that the project has made in the lives of children around the state — and she is optimistic and enthused about this year’s event.
“I believe this year can be our best year yet,” said Moore. “I truly feel that we could see more people than ever respond in faith to the gospel through Christmas Backpacks.”
Moore
Tennessee Baptists joined Christmas Backpacks (a nationwide ministry) in 2018. That year, roughly 150 Tennessee churches participated, and provided more than 3,500 backpacks.
Those numbers have steadily increased, and the ministry has provided approximately 6,000 backpacks each Christmas in recent years.
Last year Tennessee Baptists donated 6,905 backpacks. Donations came from 165 churches, two associations and one Christian school.
Moore and her team have set a goal of 7,000 backpacks for this year: “We are appreciative of all the churches that provide backpacks but we would love to have more churches involved because there is such a tremendous need.”
She shared that one in five children in Tennessee live in poverty.
“The Christmas Backpacks ministry allows ministries working with these children to strengthen relationships and show them in a very tangible way that Christ and His church care for them,” she said.
The backpacks ministry also provides “an opportunity for Tennessee Baptists to do what we do best and that is work together to take the gospel to the least of these.”
Drop off sites for the backpacks will be announced in the coming weeks. B&R — This article includes reporting by David Dawson and Lonnie Wilkey.
