CHURCH OF THE WEEK
Western Branch Baptist Church
By Barbara Cornick
The 700 Club
CBN.com
– More than 100,000 American soldiers are serving in Iraq, and Western
Branch Baptist Church in Portsmouth, Va., is serving them through Operation
Military Shoebox.
Church member Mandy Eames, who started this ministry March 2003, says, "I
was just watching the war stories and the Lord just laid it on my heart that
those guys over there need to feel support and love and Christ's love."
Mandy felt the best way to show that love was to send the troops things they
couldn't get in Iraq - things that reminded them of home. Her pastor agreed,
and the ministry was on its way.
"They mostly like baby wipes, batteries, Gatorade or Kool-Aid, sweet
tea mix, ChapStick, deodorant, toothpaste, a toothbrush usually goes in there,
soap, and we usually put a copy of the local sports section in the paper --that's
always a hit. But most of all I think their favorite item has to be home-baked
goods, like the brownies, cookies," she says.
Along with these items, the church puts a Bible tract or a New Testament
in every box they send out.
"We're really reaching out to the troops, and not just encouragement,
but spiritual encouragement too, and letting them know that there are folks
here that support them, that love them, and that can't wait until they get
home so we can hear more from them," says Mandy.
Church members, businesses and even other churches donate the items that
go into the boxes. So far Western Branch Baptist has mailed out more than
300 of them! Grateful soldiers have let the church know how much they appreciate
their love and support.
"We have received a lot of letters back from soldiers," she says.
"Some of them are lengthy. Some of them are just two sentences: 'Thanks
for the box. Thanks for the prayers. Got to go.' That's it. But we have received
a lot of letters and some photographs of soldiers."
At Christmas, military personnel get a special treat - a gift that one female
soldier will never forget.
"We put in each box a 12-inch Christmas tree with miniature decorations
so that they could have a little bit of Christmas while they were over there,"
Mandy explains. "She mentioned in the letter that she and another female
soldier in her tent had put the Christmas tree up in the middle and it looked
way cute."
Operation Military Shoebox volunteers at Western Branch Baptist love what
they do and the people they do it for.
"I enjoy doing it for the troops," says one volunteer. "I
think they're doing a wonderful job over there, and we care about them."
Adds another volunteer, "It makes me feel good that I can do something
to help them a little bit, to give them a little joy and peace."
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