|
News
Archive - Article 28
Love Reaches Out To Birmingham, AL For Christmas
2/27/02
On Friday, December 7, 2001 at the Allied Van Lines warehouse in
Birmingham, AL, thousands gathered to receive an outpouring of love
through a miracle of food and toys for the Christmas season. “Proving
that you can’t out give God,” is the explanation given
by Doctor Raymond F. Culpepper, Senior Pastor of the Metropolitan
Church of God as this holiday miracle took place. More than twenty
churches, ministries and charities took part in the distribution
of five semi tractor-trailers loaded with food, toys, clothing,
books and supplies to Alabama families in need.
It started when the congregation of the Metropolitan Church of
God, responded through their Love Reaches Out Program, partnering
with Operation Compassion to send money and much needed items to
the victims of the terrorist attack on New York City. “From
that reaching out to New York City, much like the story of Jesus
distributing the loaves and fishes, our gifts were multiplied and
sent back to Birmingham,” says Robert Needham, Metropolitan
Ministry Elder and Project Coordinator. With an estimated value
of more than $500,000 in those trucks, the problem became, “where
to put it all until it could be distributed. Thanks to the donation
of warehouse space and forklift personnel by Don Cole and the folks
at Associated Moving & Storage Co., Inc. (Allied Van Lines)
the task was made simple”, according to Needham.
Several churches and organizations in counties throughout Alabama
received items from this effort. In Jefferson, Hale, Green and Perry
Counties, Cross Walk for Revival Ministry, lead by Paul Schweigert
had already begun to distribute food, toys, clothing and other supplies
to families affected by the recession and recent layoffs. Young
Life in Birmingham received more than four pallets of baby food,
formula, diapers and clothing for more than one hundred high school
single mothers for Christmas. Micah Andrews, Youth Pastor at Metropolitan
Church, said “that its international outreach, called Operation
Smile, in Trinidad, West Indies received toys for eighteen children’s
first Christmas in this new orphanage.”
Phillip Harris, Minister of Children at Metropolitan Church and
Pastor of Metro’s Urban Ministries, said “both toys
and food will go to over eighty-five children in the Birmingham
Metro area who attend Saturday Sunday School in their communities.”
According to Reverend Ronnie Hays of Christmas on the River Ministry,
“more than thirty children of families on the Warrior River
area received toys and food items for Christmas.” Turning
Point Foundation which provides a drug and alcohol recovery ministry
received “kitchen equipment and some food items”, explained
Chip Edwards, Director.
Expressing his appreciation, Pastor Culpepper stated, “Operation
Compassion is a ministry of Christ – it duplicates His work
of touching hurting people. Thank you for giving us the opportunity
to team with you in giving’ a cup of cold water’ to
the thirsty in our city.”
Tim Burdashaw
Communications Coordinator
Anyone interested in donating finances or products or providing
a corporate lead may contact:
Operation Compassion
David Lorency, President
114 Stuart Road, NE
Suite 370
Cleveland, TN 37312
423.728.3932 - Office
423.596.4200 - Fax
|
|
