Rebuild Lakeshore

It is always amazing what God uses to bring glory to Himself and this Christmas in Lakeshore was no less amazing. By man’s standards, God makes the impossible; possible. Let me set the stage for you: two weeks before Christmas, over 500 children in need, one Sunday for churches to get the word out, at least three days of shipping time, seemingly limited funds by God’s people this close to Christmas and the need for people to act immediately. Impossible for the need to be met in a seven day time span by human efforts, yes, but not impossible when God is about the business of bringing glory to Himself. The SOS went out by word of mouth, e-mails, many, many phone calls and the internet blogs. Immediately, the body of Christ responded as the Holy Spirit prompted their hearts. Churches, individuals and groups went shopping, bought gifts, wrapped and packed them for shipment and shipped or drove them to Lakeshore by Friday, Dec. 22. After all the families were adopted, the phone calls and e-mails did not stop. People sent in money, more toys and gift cards for anyone that came in at the very last moment in need. One of the most precious aspects about the gift -giving came in the form of those who work at the distribution center everyday since Katrina got to be the very ones to pass out the gifts. Those sweet folks that have been the sounding boards, shoulder to cry on and the ones to pour out your troubles to got to be the ones to pass out a little hope in the form of Christmas gifts from so many of you.

Thank you to all of you who participated in this display of God’s glory. It is important to note that not one of the people who gave wanted to have their names on the cards to the families or wanted to receive credit in any way. God received all the glory. The many families that were blessed by the gifts asked that we tell you all how much they appreciated your love toward them. More than one family said it was the best Christmas that they had ever had in their whole lives.

Somehow saying “Merry Christmas” at the end of this post doesn’t seem to fit; maybe a more fitting close would be to say “Happy Extravagant Grace of our Loving Lord.”

One generation shall praise Your works to another, and shall declare Your mighty acts. I will meditate on the glorious splendor of Your majesty, and on Your wondrous works. Men shall speak of the might of Your awesome acts, and I will declare Your greatness. Psalm 145:4-6

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Christmas in Lakeshore may not be what it was in the past, but it resembles the standard of Christ more and more. The picture of Christ’s giving to His creation is without the expectation that we can ever come close to giving back to Him in kind. Yet, we are called to be like Him in all things. How do we do this at Christmas?

There is a need for Christmas presents (toys) for 300 kids in the Lakeshore community. You get the chance to give to kids you may never see but they will see Christ-like giving through your gifts. We wanted to open up this opportunity as another avenue of giving to Lakeshore at Christmas.

If you’d like more specific information: the children’s age groups, requested toys and the estimated children in need please contact: Pam Lackey at Plackey@alltel.net or by phone at (678)880-0157 or her cell at (678) 860-0448

We will take gifts up to Friday, December 22. We are requesting the toys be shipped directly to Lakeshore Baptist Church and labeled “Penguin Supplies.” It would be very helpful to send a hard copy of the gifts to Pam before you send them so she can check them off the list.

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Last year, we celebrated Christmas in ways that none of us could have even imagined just weeks before the event. As a result of God’s power, lives were forever altered and conformed more to His likeness than ever before. The body of Christ came together to bind up the wounds of the hurting and in doing so, became stronger through sacrifice for the suffering. Our providential God used all of us to provide the tangible for Lakeshore and its surrounding communities through Christmas dinner boxes, gift cards, toys, wreaths, trees, crock pots, CD players, Christmas CDs, stockings, children’s Christmas parties, small hand tools, small appliances and countless other gifts. Christ was demonstrated in the large and small tokens of love by His body. Confidently, we celebrate the greatness of our God and His mighty power not only by causing a hurricane to devastate the coast but more significantly, by changing human hearts.

Where do we go from here? What will the Christmas of 2006 look like? Many of you that participated in helping Lakeshore last year have been calling, e-mailing and blogging about wanting to help again this year. Still more of you have played an active role in the past year in assisting the community through rebuilding and you also have expressed a desire to help. The one resounding note that comes up in almost every volunteer conversation sounds something like this. “What can I do that will make an impact for the kingdom of God?” We have a practical, tangible way for you to help right now. Pastor Don Elbourne has answered that question with an “Adopt a Class” project. He is asking you as an individual, Sunday School class, church or club to invest in the “children of Lakeshore.” Providing space for the children to hear and appropriate the Word of God has got to be the best Christmas present that you could give them. This would be a gift that would truly make an impact for the Kingdom of God. The current plan is to build 2000 square feet of classroom space for the “Next Generation.” Here are the numbers for the Sunday School classrooms we need. We estimate construction cost to be about $100 per square foot.

• Nursery - 490 square feet needed
• Preschool - 490 square feet needed
• Grades 1-3 - 315 square feet needed
• Grades 4-6 - 315 square feet needed
• Grades 7-9 - 195 square feet needed
• Grades 10-12 - 195 square feet needed

You may choose which class or classes you will support.

For example, you may choose to support the Grades 1-3 by funding 2 square feet and your donation would then total $200.00.

We will keep a running total of the support as it comes in or is pledged.

You may make checks payable to Lakeshore Baptist Church and send them to:

Lakeshore Baptist Church
P.O. Box 293
Lakeshore, MS 39558

Please contact Pam Lackey directly via email at plackey@alltel.net or call her cell (678) 860-0448 or home (678) 880-0157. If you have any questions feel free to e-mail or call.

Thank you for being a part of rebuilding Lakeshore to the glory of God.

Merry Christmas!!

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