Indiana—Early last Dec., Ernie Peckham, Terre Haute Church pastor, challenged the church family to adopt a Christmas project with the purpose of reaching out to help someone in need. With prayer for the Holy Spirit’s leading, it was decided the church would raise money for the India Church Building Project.
“God would be well pleased if on Christmas each church would have a Christmas tree on which shall be hung offerings, great and small" (Adventist Home, p. 482). Inspired by this quote from Ellen White, Peckham asked Terre Haute Adventist School students and church members to creatively decorate envelopes and boxes in which to present their monetary gifts for the India project. The gifts were to be given in commemoration of Jesus’ birth at a special Christmas Sabbath service.
A beautiful praise service with instrumental music was highlighted by the talent of visiting musicians, Kirsten and Terry Burns, and Sean Amlaner. They delighted and inspired all with violins and a French horn, while young and old presented their gifts to Jesus. Each specially adorned parcel was carefully placed on or beneath the boughs of a ten-foot fir tree dressed in sparkling white lights.
When the parcels' contents were later counted, the gifts exceeded $1,500! With such a wonderful response, the hope was born to raise enough to build an entire church in India! So, as the Easter season approached, the church family was once again challenged by their pastor—this time to honor our Lord’s resurrection with additional gifts to reach a project goal of $3,000.
The Terre Haute Church family is happy to report that they reached their goal, with the Lord’s help. A gift from the Terre Haute Church, exceeding $3,200, has been given for a new church building in India!
This Christmas season, the Terre Haute Church plans to erect another fir tree and will again collect funds for missions. Peckham says, "We feel that it is important to be giving to missions, and Christmas is a good time to focus on others."
Karen Peckham, Terre Haute Church communication leader
