Sunday, June 4th – Blessing Bags OC at Crossline Church!
The new Blessing Bags OC ministry we are launching was featured in the Connect Booth at Crossline Church this morning. People from both services stopped by to ask what this was about, and to learn more.
Everyone thought it was a great idea: as opposed to giving cash, giving a person in need a “blessing bag” that contains food, water, and other essential items, plus an encouraging note about how they are so loved by God. Many took a free bag for their car trunk, should they meet someone in need (we had 20 prepared blessing bags), and 18 were taken by volunteers, along with a flyer. Thus they were equipped to give a blessing bags of food and common necessities to those they run across – outside a gas station, on a street corner, or elsewhere.
Jamie, one of our volunteers, noticed an apparently homeless young man at the back of the church, outside (they have outdoor seating). He had come on his bike, and I noticed the was carrying a back pack and sleeping bag on his bike. Jamie walked up to him, smiled – and he did too – and she told him God loves him, and handed him a bag. He was happy to get it, and was very thankful. I came up to him later to chat a bit, and offer help to him if he needed anything. He stayed and listened intently to the message at the first service, which was about giving.
Many who stopped by the Connection Booth donated to the cause when they picked up a bag or two for their car trunk. The donations were passed on to Crossline Church, with a note “In support of the blessing bags”. Some even wanted to join the team!
Thank you Lord for giving us the opportunity to be a blessing to others in real need, to be your eyes, hands and feet, giving a blessing bag of food and common necessities to those without a home.
Proverbs 14:21 “It is a sin to despise one’s neighbor,
but blessed is the one who is kind to the needy.”
Blessing Bags OC 