Kansas Nebraska Convention of Southern Baptists (KNCSB)

Topeka church sends boxes of love to Arkansas

New Hope Baptist Mission serves an impoverished community in the West Memphis, Ark., area. First Southern Baptist Church, Topeka, Kan., began working with New Hope in the summer of 2008.

For the second year, First Southern Baptist Church, Topeka, Kan., sent Christmas shoe boxes to a small church that serves an impoverished community in northeast Arkansas.

The Topeka church sent nearly 200 shoe boxes to New Hope Baptist Mission in Marion, Ark., (West Memphis area). John and Venona Bergmeier loaned their truck, and Darrell and Cat Plummer delivered the gifts. The Bergmeiers were unable to make the trip to Arkansas, due to December graduations in their family.

“A cantata, pizza and a birthday cake for Jesus preceded the distributing of the gifts,” according to an article in First Southern’s newsletter.

“The children were very excited and appreciative as they came with parents to the party and took home a gift—a gift-wrapped shoebox filled to capacity with items and love. The gifts we sent may be the only gift they have.

“This mission project is more than a project. It comes as the result of a mission trip in the summer of 2008 to lead a VBS and repair projects, and our hearts were touched. This is the second Christmas to send gifts.”

“Please pray for Pastor John and Cathy Rech as they serve the Lord in a very difficult area.”