Wrap up of the Big Give 2024!
Wrap Up of The Big Give 2024: ‘Tis the Season to Give Big!
From October 1st to November 24th our annual holiday giving program, The Big Give 2024, took place. Our church had three areas of giving to participate in. From local initiatives to global outreach, these efforts showed the true reason of the season. To share the gift of Jesus with others that may not know Him. LifePoint truly gave BIG this season!
Giving Tree: Cultivating Local Impact
LifePoint’s Giving Tree in the lobby showed how to make a local impact. Covered with 155 tags representing the needs of our local ministry and mission partners, the response of needs might have seemed a bit overwhelming. However, a total of 117 tags were fulfilled. Our women’s ministry, Women of the Word, owned the needs of local partner, Hope Women’s Center, and held a pajama drive for children ages of infancy to 12 years old. The Giving Tree is a way to make a tangible difference in the lives of those in our own backyard, supporting Arizona Reservation Ministries on the San Carlos Reservation, Compassion Youth Mentoring right here in San Tan Valley, Hope Women’s Center in Coolidge, Vineyard Pregnancy Center in Queen Creek, and Youth Haven children’s camp in Eloy.
Christmas in Belize Fundraiser: Step into a Child’s World
The 7th annual Christmas in Belize Fundraiser led by Pastor Kenneth Welch in Belize, raised a remarkable $3,184.20 with a goal of $3,000. These funds will support approximately 130 children in the remote village of Gales Point Manatee, providing them with gifts, a Christmas meal, sweet treats, and a cherished Bible lesson about the story of Jesus’s birth. All will take place at the villages annual Christmas Services and Celebration. The contributions from this fundraiser will continue to create lasting memories and build upon a foundation of faith for these children to share with their families during the holiday season and throughout the year. This event is Pastor Kenny’s largest outreach effort in the remote and underserved village of Gales Point year over year. Pastor Kenny responded with “I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart, we are an extension of LifePoint here in Belize and you help to make sharing the Gospel possible.”. Watch for a social media post of all the photos that we’ll receive once they have their Christmas event in Belize.
Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child: To the Ends of the Earth
“Ever since my children were little, my husband and I have tried to find ways to keep the Christmas season centered on what Christmas is really about…loving others, giving, and Jesus. Operation Christmas Child has been one way of doing just that. Each year we get so excited to see those green and red boxes out ready to be filled, prayed over, and sent to the ends of the earth for a child in need. I have loved watching them thoughtfully pick out items, seeing things that they may want themselves but excitedly placing it in the box for someone else. It has provided an opportunity to discuss those who are in need and then to give in a small tangible way. Every year I picture these children as they open their gifts, possibly the only gifts they’ll get the whole year, and the excitement and joy in their eyes as they take out each item and then for them to hear the Gospel message. It fills my heart with so much joy!” ~ Amanda Lancaster
Amanda has been part of the Operation Christmas Child Collection team for 3 years at LifePoint Church and again this year, her heart was filled with joy as LifePoint collected 150 shoeboxes to send out to the Ends of the Earth. Did you know that for every 1 child that receives an Operation Child shoebox, 7 people hear the gospel of Christ? In addition, for every 1 child that receives a shoebox, there are 2-3 other children that return to the church where they received the shoebox to be educated about Jesus through “The Greatest Journey” children’s discipleship class that will be offered to all endemic areas that receive the shoeboxes. For our math gurus, that is 150 shoebox gifts demonstrating the love of Jesus, 450 children receiving the Greatest Journey discipleship class, and 1,050 people hearing the gospel of Christ. This is one more way that we can disciple others, raise up the children and multiply the Kingdom of God! ~ Becky Haas
Thank you to everyone that participated! Each year The Big Give leaves such a beautiful mark on my heart. We are called to give joyfully to the Lord and to others. To carry each other’s burdens, and to care for those that cannot care for themselves. Through the Giving Tree, the Christmas in Belize Fundraiser, and Operation Christmas Child, we have proven that it ’tis the season to give big, and to give BIG all year long.
A special thank you to LifePoint’s Big Give Committee for helping to make this another successful year of showing the love of Christ to all people and nations! If you would like to join The Big Give Committee for 2025, email Angela@LifePointAZ.com.
Angela Noel
Missions Director