Shoebox Stories #1: Nella's Shoeboxes Plus

Have you or your children ever filled a shoebox at Christmas?  And have you ever wondered what happened to that shoebox? Here are a few stories of those who do . . . and do not . . . distribute shoeboxes.

My friend Nella gives out lots and lots of shoeboxes--plus. She is Romanian and has regularly visited a Romany village for a number of years. She has questioned shoeboxes but Remus, a member of the church there, pointed out that this was the one Christmas gift that some of those children would ever receive. 

Last year she and Remus distributed shoeboxes to the children who attended the Christmas program. This year, Nella went around the village to get the names and ages of all the Romany children. She also visited the social worker in the town hall to get the names and ages of the neediest in the village.

Then she started to work and to pray. Children in her home church used to receive shoeboxes. Now they make them for Nella. Another charity in her hometown receives shoeboxes from Scotland to go to the needy and gave almost 200 to Nella. The church in the village also received 50 from Samaritan’s Purse. In all, they were able to put together over 350 packages. 

Nella added warmly-lined clogs (€2 a piece) plus socks for each child old enough to walk. Packages for families included non-perishable food items as well as soap and other necessities. In addition, each package contained Scripture booklet or New Testament, depending on the recipient's age.

The Lord provided a small truck to carry all these things the 6-hour drive to the village. Two Romany believers helped sort everything by family and child’s name. These two actually delivered all 350 packages.

“It was like a marathon,” Nella told me. “But everyone was so content. If you could see their faces. There were children who literally jumped for joy. And seeing barefoot children wearing the shoes I put in the bags was a real joy. The most they rejoiced for the socks. That’s what most of the children told me. Of course, the sweets. The parents told us they appreciated the shampoo, the hygiene items.”

This was not a give-and-run shoebox operation. Nella had personal contact with each household ahead of time. She will have personal contact again, in the coming months. She worked with and through local believers. Romany who lived in the village, not wealthier-looking outsiders, were the ones who physically brought each package to each household. 

There were lots of plusses to Nella's shoeboxes. The plusses which added the most and will continue to multiply are larger and last longer than any shoebox.

Safe At Home

We live in Westervoort, a quiet village south and east of Arnhem. It's 9:30 PM as I write this. The streets are especially quiet. Due to concerns over the three new versions of the Corona virus, the Dutch government has added a 9 PM-4:30 AM curfew to our existing lockdown. Like most people, we've been at home, minding our own business, since suppertime.

As you may have seen on the news, though, a few people in the Netherlands are not content to wait out this latest lockdown at home. Churches, bars, restaurants, movie theaters, schools, and museums are closed. We are only supposed to have one outside-the-house visitor per day. We weren't supposed to set off any fireworks on New Year's Eve, and we aren't counting on any across-the-borders vacations for the immediate future. 

Some people have had enough and decided to go out after 9 PM to protest. Some other people decided to go out after 9 PM, too, and let off some steam. Well, maybe a lot of steam. 

This seems to be quieting down. In the meantime, we are staying safe at home. We pray you all are safe and at home, too.

We Really Appreciate Jason!

A reflection by Dr. Dale Meredith (also sometimes "Jason")

Paul and Silas were in Thessalonica.  Paul went to the synagogue and explained from the Scriptures about Jesus for three weeks.  Some Jews, many leading women, and a large group of Greeks believed Jesus was the Messiah and joined Paul and Silas.  Some Jews were jealous and gathered a crowd to attack Paul and Silas.  Paul and Silas had been staying with Jason.  Therefore, these  Jews dragged Jason and some other believers before the city authorities and charged them with breaking the laws of the Emperor by teaching about another king, whose name is Jesus.  Jason and the other believers had to post bond before they could go (Acts 17:1-9).

"Jason" in Catalonia, 2019

Jason let Paul and Silas stay at his house.  This allowed Paul to stay in Thessalonica to preach and start a church.  Jason never
preached a sermon, but he helped Paul preach many sermons.  He never wrote a book, but because he was faithful there was a church in Thessalonica and Paul wrote 1 and 2 Thessalonians.  He never went on a mission trip, but because he was faithful Paul and Silas went to many other towns.  Jason stood up for what was true and right when he faced persecution because he had let Paul and Silas stay at his house.  Not only that, but he would not tell the authorities where to find Paul and Silas.  He risked his life that the gospel could be preached.  It cost him when he had to post bond with the authorities to be able to go.  That is all we know about Jason.

There are many like Jason who are faithful to do what they can in order for the gospel to be preached so others can hear about Jesus and accept Jesus as their savior.  People like Jason pray, give, provide facilities, witness by their actions and testimony that Jesus is the Savior.  It is because of people like Jason that missionaries can go to take the gospel to other places.  It is because of people like Jason that churches can continue to be places of worship.  God calls us to be faithful to use the gifts and resources he gives us.

You may not be called to do what Jason did.  However, God has given you a gift and resources.  God asks you to be faithful in the use of your gift and your resources for God’s purpose.  God does not ask us all to do the same thing.  God is pleased when you are faithful to do what he calls you to do.  I pray that we will all: Be smart, be careful, be helpful, be safe, and not be afraid.  God is with us now and forever.​ 

Dale D. Meredith

Pastor, University Baptist Church, Amherst, New York and

Professor Emeritus, State University of New York at Buffalo

INTERNSHIPS AVAILABLE!

 

How many of you had internships as students? I did. I had a fantastic experience conducting oral history interviews in Chicago.

How many of you were paid for those internships? These CBF interns did. They worked with us last summer developing educational videos and puppets. CBF's Student.Go program (or, given current circumstances, Student.Stay program) provides a variety of creative options. 

If you, or a student you know, would be interested, feel free to contact Taisha Seabolt, Global Missions Student and Training Specialist, or apply directly at www.cbf.net/studentdotgo. 

We're looking for an intern again this spring, too, to help us with social media. Feel free to contact us directly for more information.

Are you a college student wondering how God can use your gifts virtually during the Spring semester? Apply now to serve and learn through Student.Go, the student missions program of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. Students will take part in a virtual orientation in late January 2021, receive a stipend, and serve for 14 weeks, including monthly meetings with CBF staff and field personnel, and weekly meetings with an encourager. Learn more and apply before the January 8, 2021 deadline at www.cbf.net/studentdotgo.

Opportunities List Spring 2021

Student.Go Virtual Positions

 

Webpage and Social Media Advisor/Designer – Westervoort, Netherlands– (1 Student) Undergraduate or Graduate Students – Spring 2021

               Skills required: Desire to serve Christ's Kingdom;  computer, website and social media design and use; patience in working with members from a generation who do not have the same skill set.

 

Assistant for Silent Art Auction – Bali, Indonesia (field personnel currently in South Carolina due to COVID) – (1 Student) Undergraduate or Graduate Students – *Special Project (mid-to-late spring through early July)*

*This is a special project that will start mid-to-late spring and go through early July. Student must be flexible as the pandemic may shift the position to a virtual one, and the type of work required may also include other responsibilities.

Skills required: Interest in art and culture, research and writing skills, social media promotion skills. Must enjoy talking to people and telling stories. Design skills are a plus.

 

 

Human Rights/FORB Researcher – Kosice, Slovakia – (1 Student) Undergraduate or Graduate Students – Spring 2021

Ideally, the candidate chosen will have previous contextual knowledge of at least one African country from the Baptist World Alliance list.

 Skills required: Ability to work in a collaborative environment with an existing, diverse, and dispersed human rights advocacy network. Must have clear writing and communication skills and an understanding of how to weigh the value of research sources.

 

Media Strategist – Somerset, Kentucky – (1 Student) Undergraduate or Graduate Students – Spring 2021

Skills required: Media Strategist needs to be knowledgeable in all aspects of Social Media, comfortable with website design, proficient in PowerPoint and basic video production. The Media Strategist needs to be self-motivated and comfortable working remotely. Excellent communication skills are a necessity.

 

Spring Program Intern (Spiritual Formation Assistant or Social Media Assistant) – Miami, Florida – (1 Student) Undergraduate or Graduate Students – Spring 2021

Skills required: For the Social Media assistant opportunity, the student should have a creative mindset, knowledge of social media platforms and analytical tools, good communication skills, medium level of video creation and editing knowledge, experience using PowerPoint, Word, and YouTube, along with experience with design on Adobe or Canva (or other design websites). Additionally, students should have a desire to explore creative ways to share content pertaining to TML’s mission, ability and willingness to work with others as a team member, flexibility and ability to meet deadlines.

 

Tutor for Kids / Kids Bible Club – Fremont, California – (1 Student) Undergraduate or Graduate Students – Spring 2021

Skills required: Ability to work with children and help with schoolwork, should be friendly, enthusiastic, and creative. Should be able to work on their own and with guidance. Must have a computer and ability to use Zoom.