Covenant News

Shoe Box Connects Girls, Links Churches

EL DORADO HILLS, CA (September 17, 2004) - Every Christmas Claire Massey, a 16-year-old from Lakehills Covenant Church, sends a shoebox full of gifts to a needy child in a foreign country.

Three years ago, the gift turned into a friendship, which turned into a labor of love for a Pacific Southwest Conference (PSWC) congregation in Northern California.

Lakehills Covenant Church helped raise funds for a Philippine church building project after Massey began corresponding with a girl she had given a gift to through a Samaritan's Purse project called "Operation Christmas Child." Thanks to the monetary gifts, the congregation in the Philippines has a new meeting site with hopes of expanding its ministry to other locations.

"Operation Christmas Child" has been a project that many Covenant churches have been a part of – churches send gifts in shoe boxes to needy people around the world. Lakehills Covenant has been a regular participant, too, and that's how Massey got involved. She has regularly enclosed her address with her packages and in 2001 she received a response from Catherine, a Filipino girl her age. They have been corresponding regularly ever since.

In their correspondence this year, Catherine requested prayer regarding a much needed meeting place for a new church. The growing congregation held meetings in Catherine's home, but it was clear a new meeting place was needed. To build a simple structure for the new church, $700 would need to be raised. Massey prayed and shared the prayer request with her mother, Kathy, who encouraged her to tell the church about the Filipino congregation.

In May this year, Massey shared the need with her church and Lakehills Covenant was quick to respond, sending $1,400 to pastor Benito Nacilla of the Christian & Missionary Alliance Church in Gingoog City, Philippines. Pastor Nacilla and his congregation believe God has called them to plant 10 new churches by 2010. The congregation that received the funds is the first of those 10. The sanctuary structure is nearly complete, according to a recent article on the PSWC online news site.

"I am very, very happy today and so excited as I got your letter," wrote the pastor in an email to Claire and the church. "I could not help but rejoice and jump in praising God for answering our prayers. I thank God that He touched you with compassion and (that you) acted immediately. Last week I almost lost hope."

In August, Massey received pictures of the nearly completed sanctuary structure. Claire noted, "I am really blessed to know that our church was willing to step up and help their brothers and sisters in Christ on the other side of the world." When asked if her faith has increased as a result of these events, Claire responded, "Absolutely!" It's amazing how prayers from someone in the Philippines can be heard and how God can speak those dreams and desires to someone in America."

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