I am excited to share with you the details of our CHRISTMAS OFFERING that begins now and continues through January 15, 2012.  We have the opportunity through this offering to impact our community, our county, and the world!

Over the last eleven years, we have seen our church grow from just a handful of people to a thriving and growing church with two locations:  Leander & Taylor.

We are helping people “KNOW Christ & GROW to be like Him” each week.  With the Christmas Offering, we have the opportunity to increase our impact on our community, deepen our ministry to our attenders, and multiply our efforts to reach those who don’t know Jesus in other parts of our county and around the globe.  In other words, the CHRISTMAS OFFERING will help us to “SHOW Christ to our World.”

Here are the specific ministry initiatives that giving to 2011 CHRISTMAS OFFERING will support:

1.     Back Packs for Kids (Local Charity)

Can you imagine a mother or father’s thoughts when they have to decide between groceries and paying the electric bill?  Many parents in our community face that decision often.

As we partner with Leander Middle School, the funds we raise will buy food for needy kids and families in our community.

How does the Back Pack Program work?

Every Friday during the school year, backpacks are filled with food and sent home with students who are on the free/reduced lunch program.  The counselors at each grade level distribute the backpacks.  Students return the backpacks the following week so that they can be filled again.

2.     Taylor Location Improvements (Ministry Development)

We adopted our former church plant as a new location.  Our new location has so much potential:  6 acres and three buildings!

However they are in need of:

1. New signs

2.  Paving

      3.  Paint the buildings & add some stone

4. ADA approved bathrooms:  Currently, their bathrooms are not equipped for persons with disabilities, wheel chairs, etc.

3.     Mission Trip to Kenya (Global Missions)

July 8-22 of 2012, our group will be traveling to Nairobi, Kenya to help an orphanage with various ministry activities.

Our goal is $6000 for each area listed, for a total of $18,000.  When you give, your offering will be divided equally among the three ministry initiatives.  Please feel free to designate your offering to a particular initiative:  “Back packs, Kenya or Taylor.”

Will you begin praying now about what God would have you give (over and above your regular giving) to the CHRISTMAS OFFERING?  Allow God to stretch your faith!

God bless,   Darrell

To give to the Christmas Offering,  go to http://www.ridgefellowship.com/#/online-giving