The computer training ministry at Edison Village which we do with Marion Yoder and Jim Smiley from the Grantham Church, Harold Musser, and our own Rick Souder, currently has 20 students in it. For those of you who might not know, we train people on how
to use a computer and, after graduation, give them a computer to take home as their own. This is made possible by the Leader Foundation which supplies the computers. Thanks so much for your contribution in time and personnel to this ministry.

Earlier in September, in partnership with Capital Area Christian Church, Harrisburg BIC distributed 85 backpacks to needy children for school. In those backpacks were a calculator, a ruler, crayons and markers, pens and pencils, paper, scissors, and erasers. Our children and youth ministries have interacted with 150 youth and children at some point in the last year, from both the city and the suburbs.

This past Halloween we hosted Meet & Greet – Light up the Night, with neighborhood trick or treaters who were out. We gave the kids cotton candy, hot dogs, a flashlight (with “Shine the Light on Jesus” on it), Bibles, and for the parents toothpaste, a tooth brush, toiletries, and body wash. The kids, in addition to their food and gifts, were able to see Christian videos, do crafts and sand art, and interact with a clown doing balloon art.

The Food Pantry at the church continues to grow as word gets out. Over 50 families now come to us with some regularity for help. In addition, we gave out over 200 Thanksgiving baskets this year. The baskets included a turkey and cooking pan, stuffing, sweet potatoes, gravy, vegetables, rolls, rice, butter, pumpkin pie ingredients, and fruit. A special thanks to Capital Area Christian Church who partnered with us in this endeavor.

At Christmas, we will be joining with the Toys for Tots program, and will be distributing thousands of dollars worth of toys to over 200 people. Along with the toy distribution will come a banquet hosted by the church, along with gifts for the mothers. There will also be a speaker who will share her own story and a gospel message.

Our Celebrate Recovery Program on Friday nights ministers to 18 men, women, and families of addicts, alcoholics, or people struggling with other forms of addiction. A number of these folks have started attending church and some have received Christ as their Savior.

The congregation continues to become more diverse with African-Americans, Guyanese, Puerto Ricans, Indians (Asia), and people of European descent. It’s an exciting time. In our newest Racial Reconciliation class, which started in October, there are 22 people from various ethnicities striving to put into practice Christ’s call to be “one.” In the last four years, nearly 100 people have gone through this class.

Finally, an exciting new ministry is being developed. Several businessmen in our congregation are beginning to form a ministry to help financially disadvantaged people find and develop a career, manage money, or start a small business. Please pray for this ministry in the months to come. Christ, I believe, not only wants us to help out the poor with their needs, but to help the poor out of poverty.

Thanks so much for the gift of $10,000. Thanks even more for your prayers, love, and the partnership we share. God bless you as He leads the Grantham Church into the future He has for you. We appreciate you more than words can express.