The Appalachian Coalfields Ministry, sponsored by NCBM, seeks to meet physical and spiritual needs of people living in the Appalachian Area. Working with scores of ministry centers and small churches in five Appalachian states, we help mobilize volunteers and resources to meet needs. One of the greatest ministry needs in this area occurs around Christmas time. NCBM is calling on churches statewide to respond to this need through Appalachian Christmas Outreach 2020. Our goal is to collect 18,000 backpacks of items to be distributed to Appalachian children in areas of need in December 2020. Statewide collection date will be Saturday, November 7. PLEASE BRING YOUR COMPLETED BACKPACKS TO THE BUNCOMBE BAPTIST RESOURCE CENTER AT 227 HAZEL MILL ROAD, ASHEVILLE 28806 ON NOVEMBER 7.

WAYS YOU AND YOUR CHURCH CAN HELP: COLLECT ITEMS AND PREPARE BACKPACK.

 Each zippered school backpack should include:

A) Small items of NEW items of warm clothing such as winter hats, gloves, socks, scarves, etc. B) Small pop-top canned food such as ravioli, tuna, beef stew, vegetables, fruit (3-4 cans) C) At least 1-2 NEW, age appropriate non-breakable toy (no toy weapons, please!) This can include small cars, balls, dolls, small stuffed animals, yo-yos, jump rope, sidewalk chalk, card games, Legos, etc. For oldest age group (15-17) substitute an appropriate item instead of a toy, such as, a flashlight, small thermos, light blanket, books, hunting and fishing magazines for the boys - jewelry, books, skin care products, hair accessories, etc. for girls. D) Hygiene items including full sized containers of toothpaste, body wash, shampoo, and deoderant, as well as toothbrush, soap, washcloth, brush or comb. (Please fit these items into a one gallon Ziploc bag so they do not leak out into the rest of the backpack). E) Fresh, wrapped candy (no chocolate please, as it may melt; and no peanut products) F) A children’s Bible or youth Bible (no one version is required) Please make sure that every pack has a Bible in it! G) A copy of "The Christmas Story" ** **We ask that you enclose a copy of the Christmas story in each bag. You can download and print a .pdf copy of it here from our website https://baptistsonmission.org/BOM/files/19/19fff416-f88f-46ac-bdbf-6b5f85b53d50.pdf. Printing Tip: If the second page prints out upsidedown, choose "short edge - top" binding option under your printing preferences. You may have to click "Print using system dialog" to get to your advanced preferences. Packing hint:The Bible and Christmas Story flyer seem to fit best in the front pocket of the backpack.

Age Grouping and Labeling. Each backpack should be labeled boy or girl as well as the appropriate age. Age groupings for this year are 4-7, 8-10, 11-14, 15-17. Due to labels falling off in previous years, we went to a ribbon system for labeling last year, and it proved to be very effective. Each backpack will have two 10 inch ribbons tied to them - one to indicate gender and one for age, as follows: Gender: Blue ribbon will indicate a boy’s backpack. Pink ribbon will indicate a girl’s backpack. Age: Yellow ribbon will indicate that the backpack is for ages 4-7 Green ribbon for ages 8-10 Red ribbon for ages 11-14 White ribbon for ages 15-17. We ask that you prepare your backpack as you would for your own child or grandchild, with new items, not used ones. This quality gift could be the only Christmas present this child receives, and will be a witness of Christ’s love!

Do you have Hispanics living near your church and want to find ways to reach them? Gary Odom is available to meet with pastors, church leaders or come and speak on a Sunday evening to help you map out a simple plan. Gary has been a missionary with IMB in South America for nine years and has also started Spanish speaking churches in the U.S. He is currently contracting with the Buncombe Baptist Association to help churches in this area. You may call Gary at 828-620-1265 or text him. Gary is looking forward to hearing from you.

Bring your used Sunday School Literature, Bibles and tracts to the Resource Center. The materials will be transported to Harvest Seed Ministry of Mt. Sinai Baptist Church in Shelby, NC. We are receiving several boxes of used Sunday School literature from churches across our Buncombe Baptist Association.  Come help us sort and box this material so that we can transport them to Shelby, NC. From there they will be shipped to many countries where churches need these "Love Packages" to lead believers in a deeper study of God's Word. The following is a list of items we will accept. 

• Bibles:  New, used, any translation, in any condition
• Tracts
• Sunday School Supplies:  Quarterlies, teacher books, teaching packets, teaching pictures, etc. for all ages and all publishers,  Children's packets should include just teaching help items and be in the plastic cover sealed shut.  Do not send any handiwork or crafts the children have made.
• Reference Books,& Commentaries, Devotionals,VBS Kits (Complete Kits), Christian Books & Paperbacks
• Media (CD's DVD's, B Blu Ray, Music, Movies Teaching and etc.)
• Hymnals & Musicals
• Puppets, Bible Games, Biblical Puzzles, Nativity Sets, Noah's Ark

Sorting Used Literature & Bibles: (Local Volunteer Work that Impacts International Missions)

• THERE ARE NO SORTING DATES FOR THIS QUARTER AT THIS TIME:  (Each sorting date begins at 10:00 am)
• Please call the Baptist Resource Center at 828-252-1864 to let us know you are coming (individual, small groups)

Thank You, Diana Brewer, Missions Mobilization Assistant