New Life at Easter
What are your childhood memories of Easter? Coloring eggs? Nibbling chocolate bunnies? Dressing up in new clothes? Singing Christ the Lord is Risen Today?
For most inner-city children, Easter is just another day.
That’s why Here’s Life’s annual Easter Bag outreach is so valuable. In April, over 30,500 Easter Bags were provided to inner-city churches and ministries, thanks to your generosity. They were filled with sweet treats, fruit, a toy, a Gospel bracelet and an Easter book for children. The goal: to connect churches with children and their families and guide them toward the Savior.
In New York City, Glen, Carole and Kayla knocked on a door in the bleak hallway of a housing project. When Serena, noticeably pregnant, opened the door, Glen asked if there were any children home who would like the gift of an Easter Bag.
Three quickly materialized, ages 6, 5, and 3. Then Glen said, "Reach into your bag and find the bracelet with the different colored beads." When they each had a bracelet in hand, he used it to explain the Gospel message. The young children were amazingly attentive.
When Glen had finished, he asked if they would like to ask Jesus into their hearts. All three nodded yes, then followed him in prayer.
All along, Serena had been standing behind the children, listening. Glen turned to her and asked, "What about you?" She said that she had received Christ years ago but, as she put it, "I have really backslid. I need to get back to church. It’s no accident that you came here."
In cities across the nation, in churches, in homeless shelters, even in housing projects, the Easter message will be boldly proclaimed ... thanks to a simple decorated bag.
More Stories of Connecting, Empowering, and Developing:
Connecting: From Russia—via Brooklyn—with Love
Empowering: I Want a Clean Heart
Connecting: A House of Prayer in Bakersfield and a Sidewalk in AtlantaSome Helpful Links:
Here's Life Inner City New York CityTo give a gift online in support of these Easter Bag outreaches ...
