Children's Minsitry Day 2009

Children’s Ministry Day is a National Event created to join children and their leaders in a celebration of doing hands-on ministry.  Across Virginia, Mission Friends, Girls in Action, Children in Action, and Royal Ambassadors participated in Healthcare Ministry in their communities.   Here are their stories of creative and thoughtful expressions of God’s love.

Clifford Baptist Church, Clifford–We are the GA's of Clifford Baptist Church in Clifford, Virginia. As our Children's Ministry Day project we chose to make Gladness Grocery Bags for Hospice of the Hills in Lynchburg, Virginia. This is an organization that works with and ministers to families of the terminally ill.

Each girl was given a grocery bag which she decorated on the outside and then filled with non-perishable items. The only required items were at least one roll of toilet paper and one roll of paper towels, other than that the girls could use their imaginations. Most bags included kleenex, lotions, soups, mac and cheese for the microwave, oodles of noodles, candy bars, cookies, can or bottle soda, fruit juice boxes, gum, paper, pencil, pens. Those bags designed for children had childrens books, crayons, coloring books, small games, playing cards and stuffed animals. The bags designed for adults would have magazines, packs of thank you notes, inspirational books, gloves, hats, scarfs and socks. The purpose for the bags is provide useful items in a time of need. Many times when a person is so sick, families are so focused on the immediate situation that they may forget to go to the store and then there are times that they may not be able to afford just the neccessities of life. These bags are there for those times. The GA's nor their leaders have any idea to whom the bags will be given. On February 11th, the girls had a "Give it in Love" party in which we all prayed that God would bless the bags and send them to just the right person at just the right time. On February 15th, Children's Ministry Day, the GA's brought the bags before our church and explained the purpose and our goal. They then invited the our pastor, Rev. Dr. Michael Fitzgerald to offer a prayer of dedication over the bags, as our church prayed too.

Middle District Association – The RA's, GA's, mission friends, and Children in Action from churches in the Middle District Baptist Association got together on Valentine's day and made goody bags filled with homemade cookies, pens, paper, bookmarks and a homemade card. These bags were taken to share with patients and patient's families that stay at the Hospital Hospitality House in Richmond, VA (www.hhhrichmond.org). We had 25 children from 5 different churches present. There were also 15 adults present to help. It was a wonderful morning and the people from the hospitality house were so grateful for the time and prayers we offered on their behalf. We're already looking toward another wonderful Children's Ministry Day in 2010.

New Bethesda Baptist Church, Mechanicsville - Our CIA group at New Bethesda Baptist Church visited our shut-ins and read to them.  Both the shut-ins and the children loved the visits.

Blue Ridge Chapel Baptist Church, Galax – The children at Blue Ridge Chapel Baptist Church in Galax participated in Children's Ministry Day by preparing "Care Bags for Chemo Patients."  Prior to preparing the bags, Teresa Ray, an oncology nurse at Twin County Regional Hospital talked to the children about cancer, chemotherapy, and its effect on patients.  This project was chosen because several members of our church and in our community have recently or are in process of being treated for cancer.  Hopefully, the children will have a better understanding about what we are praying about when they hear prayer requests for cancer patients.

The children decorated bags and wrote notes to patients.  Included in the bags were ball caps, lip balm, hand cream or lotion, puzzle books  (crossword, hidden word, sudoku), hard candies, pencils, writing pads, and small inspirational books.  The bags were distributed to chemo patients at Twin County Regional Hospital. 

River Shore Baptist Church, Portsmouth – We would like to share our participation in Children's Mission Day, February 14, 2009. Our younger children's Sunday School classes made Valentines for children hospitalized in Portsmouth Naval Hospital here in Portsmouth, VA.  Our Sunday School Superintendant and one of the teachers took the children and Valentines to the hospital early Saturday morning.  The children were not allowed to visit the patients however, the activity director came out and congratulated them on the encouragement their deed of kindness would bring other children confined in the hospital.

First Baptist, Coeburn – 3 Children from First Baptist Church, Coeburn hosted a pancake and sausage breakfast to raise funds for Malrotation Awareness in Honor and Memory of 11 month old Georgia Gardner who passed away from Malroation 7 days before her first birthday.   The children raised over 300.00 and worked really hard and had a great time.  

Beulah Baptist Church, Aylett – Missions Friends and Children in Action visited the Hospitality House at MCV, taking handmade gifts and treats.  They also visited Virginia Grist, the oldest member at Beulah Baptist Church, taking handmade cards, gifts, cake and ice cream to celebrate.

Sharon Baptist Church, King William- The project we picked was making blankets to give to children that were involved in car accidents or in house fires. We delivered them to our local fire departments (Mangohick VFD and King William VFD). Our adults got together on Feb. 7th to help cut the blankets out and on Feb. 14th our children and parents came in to tie the blankets together. We had such a great time getting together to do this project. We delivered the blankets to both fire depts. and got great tours of both fire depts. and the kids got to ride in the fire trucks! We had a great day together and look forward to doing this again next year. In all, we made 37 blankets and also donated 5 trash bags full of stuffed animals!

Mechanicsville Baptist Church, Mechanicsville - Children made banners with scripture for the patients and staff at West End Dialysis Center. They also sent scripture candy to the patients.

Chestnut Grove Baptist Church, Earlysville – The Girls in Action stuffed and sewed bears to give love and comfort for children who are hospitalized at University of Virginia Hospital.

Aaron’s Creek Baptist Church, Virgilina - Baked cookies, made gift bags, and delivered them to 8 elderly members of their church.  Their visits included praying and singing to share love and kindness. 

Goochland Baptist Church, Manakin Sabot - Children on Mission collected and delivered medical supplies for the infirmary at Camp Alkulana in Millboro Springs.  Camp Alkulana serves inter-city Richmond children during the summer.

Northwest Baptist Church, Chesapeake – The children of Northwest Baptist Church in Chesapeake, Virginia participated in Children's Ministry Day on Valentine’s Day by visiting with the Senior Citizens at Emily Green Shores Assisted Living Home in Portsmouth, Virginia.  There were a total of 6 children and 4 adults that helped with this project. Prior to visiting the home, our children helped put together a craft project called “The Sweetheart Bear.”  All the residents received one.  While at the home, our children helped serve the seniors as they gathered in the dining area: chocolate chip cookies, chocolate pudding tarts, fresh cut apples and grapes, rice crispy treats and tropical punch.    Afterwards, everyone gathered in the reception hall where our children presented a Puppet Program of two skits and there was singing by both the puppets and the children.  Through this ministry, we are teaching our children that a kind thought, a kind word, a small gift, a soft touch, a hug and even just a smile shows someone how God lives in our hearts.  Our group received the biggest blessing because we gave the “Gift of LOVE” and we got to witness all of the seniors receiving our gift with open arms.

Kedron Baptist Church, Gladys –   For our Children's Ministry Day project we made health care bags for children at the local Battered Women's Shelter. We made Staying Healthy coloring books for the bags. We made pages for the book about the food pyramid and how they should eat healthy. We included pages about brushing your teeth and exercise. It had coloring pages, word searches and crossword puzzles. The GAs put the books together and decorated the covers. They also decorated the bags. They filled the bags with cereal, fruit, toothbrushes, toothpaste, floss, soap, washcloths, jump ropes, sidewalk chalk, and crayons. We also made healthy lunches for some of the widows in our church. We also gave them Valentines. We delivered the lunches to eight widows. We only had three GAs that were able to be there but they did a great job. They had a great time making the bags. The widows really enjoyed their visit.

Buckingham Baptist Church, James River Association - The YOM and CIA participated in Children’s Ministry Day on February 14, 2009 by ministering to a lady in the community, who is recuperating from several broken limbs.  The YOM collected items for a Sunshine Basket including gifts of personal need items, books of encouragement, music CD’s, candy, gum, and other items. The CIA took her a fruit basket as she really enjoys fruit.  Both groups collected a trunk load of staple food items for Christian Outreach, a non-denominational ministry that provides food, clothing, and household goods to those who have lost homes, or are in need of food, clothing, etc.   

Bethany Baptist Church, Callao - Special guest, Anna Snedden, who is a cancer survivor met with the children to share her experience and to tell them about the health care workers at VCU cancer center. They made 12 blankets, one for Anna, and 11 for children currently undergoing cancer treatment. In addition, they made 20 goodie bags for the health care workers. The church had a "blessing of the blankets" during the worship service.

Nash's Chapel Baptist Church, Wise - Children's Ministry Day was a huge success this year. The children made valentine cards for 18 residents of the Golden Homestead adult home located in Coeburn. Everyone joined together to sing Jesus Loves Me and have prayer.

Fredericksburg Association - Five churches joined together to make 100 care packages for children in long term stays at a local hospital.

“Dear children, don’t just talk about love.  Put your love into action.  Then it will truly be love.”  1 John 3:18 (NIrV)