Filling A Bag; Narrowing A Gap

Written by Sabrina Gustafson, Family Advocate of the Connection Center

Birthdays have been celebrated for centuries—from honoring nobility with gifts, to rejoicing over Jesus’ birth in a manger, to celebrating each person for their unique individuality. More recently, increased investment in the upbringing of children has led to the annual celebration of their lives through the giving of gifts. Birthdays have become a marker of growth, maturity, and potential, and a time to be thankful for an important person.

Light of Christ is one of our several church partners with a ministry that fills a gap for neighbors in need. In partnership with Love INC Heartland, Light of Christ Lutheran Church supports families by providing a birthday bag. These birthday bags are for children 0–10 years old and are filled with birthday celebration gifts and supplies chosen specifically for the child being celebrated.

Children anxiously await birthdays with anticipation and excitement. Birthdays bring feelings of joy, being special, and having fun gifts, parties, and personal celebration.

For parents, birthdays are a way to express love and appreciation for their child, recognizing their importance and the blessing they bring to their lives.

Neighbors in need may find themselves pressed to decide between paying bills and buying birthday supplies. This added expense causes increased anxiety, which can lead a parent to feel inadequate. The birthday gap ministry addresses this challenge. Providing birthday bags for families in need relieves the stress that one more expense creates.

Committed volunteers who love children and want to support families take time to learn about each child, gathering specific information about their interests and favorites. Their attention to detail fosters joy and excitement, transforming birthdays into memorable celebrations filled with warmth and love.

Light of Christ volunteers bless children, regardless of their circumstances. Families are delighted and thankful to take part in this impactful ministry; happily, they are experiencing the joy of a child’s birthday celebration.

This ministry exemplifies the message of Psalm 139:13–14: “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”

If your church is interested in creating a Gap Ministry in partnership with Love In the Name of Christ Heartland, contact us. Let’s serve our neighbors in need together!