Johnson City Press Christmas Box

A local ministry is getting a head start on their annual Christmas food program. They need your help to raise money to feed the needy in our community. Each year, the Johnson City Press Christmas Box provides food boxes for over 900 families as well as a $35 gift certificate for seniors in Carter County. Becky Brumitt of Hale Community Ministries told us there were twenty-one food items in the boxes last year including a ham and a turkey. "We found out that seniors are on special diets," says Martha Laws who represents Carter County at the Johnson City Press Food Box. She sites this as the reason for offering seniors certificates. It is an immense struggle to raise the funds to purchase the food. Laws says that the committee in charge of Carter County's food box has had to raise money each year for the program. This year, they hope to get a head start and gain recurring donors. The program needs help from individuals like you as the costs for the program total more than $30,000. Becky Brumitt is working with Watauga Baptist churches to raise money for the food. Volunteers are also needed to help pack and distribute the boxes. "The most rewarding thing of distribution is the family that comes in, and they see that box as if it's a box of gold," says Candy Craig, a volunteer for the program. To donate to the Christmas Box contact Hale Community Ministries at 423-547-2560. To volunteer call Martha Laws at 423-282-5756.

Belize Mission Trip

Each summer, children all across the United States enjoy participating in the excitement of Vacation Bible School, but what about the rest of the world? A mission team from Calvary Baptist Church in Elizabethton recently helped to provide the spirit of VBS to children in the small villages of Roaring Creek and Camelote, Belize during their recent mission trip. They started off the week with two fun days with kids from nearby villages. The fun days truly were fun including Bible stories, music, face painting, crafts, balloon animals, t-shirt making, water balloon fights, and the best of all ice cream. During the rest of their stay, the team evangelized to the nearby village of Camelote while distributing much needed food as well as solar powered lights. At least one person came to know Christ during their visit. Calvary’s pastor, Joe Sorah was also busy throughout the week equipping Belizean pastors to lead their congregations, and their music director, Elmer Sams, repaired over 60 bicycles during the trip. While in Belize, the mission team joined the people of Camelote for some very lively church services.

Repairing the Washington Monument

Repair work has begun on the Washington Monument after it was damaged by an earthquake in August of 2011. The quake left many cracks, some large enough to let in water and sunlight. Engineers have been inspecting the monument ever since the earthquake to check each stone for damage. They will be repairing the monument with rock from its original quarry in Maryland. The park service hopes to reopen the monument next spring.