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Give the gift of the Gospel this Christmas!

Christmas Backpack season is here! The backpacks help create community outreach events to proclaim the Good News of Christ at Christmas. In supporting this work, you can be sure that your generosity prepares the soil for sharing Jesus while blessing families.

This year the backpacks we collect will go to the Hispanic Church that meets here in our building, Gracia Sobre Gracia. Gracia Sobre Gracia is a faithful SBCV partner church, and has been great to share space with. We're excited to provide these backpacks that they can use in ministry and outreach.

SMRBC will be collecting backpacks in the foyer on Sundays, or backpacks can be brought to the church office during office hours on weekdays. Please bring your backpack in by Sunday, December 1st, 2024.

How to Pack a Backpack

1. Get Ready

  • All items need to be new
  • Backpacks should be full-sized (17-inch) with zippers
  • Each backpack will need to have a label to specify whether it is for a boy or girl and for an elementary or middle school-age child
  • Shop with an age and gender in mind:
    • Elementary School Boy
    • Middle School Boy
    • Elementary School Girl
    • Middle School Girl

2. Add a label

  • Each backpack will need to have a label to specify whether it is for:
    • a boy or girl
    • an elementary or middle school-age child
  • Labels will be available at the Information Desk

3. Fill the Backpack

To ensure that children receive backpacks similar in content and cost, please adhere to these guidelines. All contents need to fit inside of the zipped backpack.

  • 1 school supply pouch filled with sharpened #2 pencils, a small sharpener, a pack of colored pencils, ink pens, and a pack of crayons
  • 1 personal journal or coloring book (whichever is age appropriate)
  • 1 refillable water bottle (unfilled)
  • 1 gallon Ziplock bag with personal items (ex., toothbrush, toothpaste, hairbrush, travel-sized soap, shampoo)
  • 1 gallon Ziplock bag with single serve food items (ex., cheese crackers, squeeze applesauce, granola bars, animal crackers)
  • 1 quart size Ziplock bag with candy treats (ex., Skittles, Smarties, lollipops (anything non-chocolate)
  • 1 set of winter gloves and hat
  • 1 pack of socks
  • 1 small sized non-electronic toy or stuffed animal (No toy guns or knives)
  • 1 age-appropriate Bible or spiritual book (recommended books for 8–14-year-olds)

4. Pray over the backpack

A vital step in preparing the backpacks is for God to go before you and prepare the hearts and lives of those they touch. Pray for God to deliver your backpacks to those He has prepared. Ask the Lord to use this backpack to draw the child and his/her family to Himself (Matthew 9). Pray for the church Gracia Sobre Gracia that the backpacks would be a blessing to their church and allow them to reach many new people with the Gospel.

5. Bring it In

SMRBC will be collecting backpacks in the foyer on Sundays, or backpacks can be brought to the church office during office hours on weekdays. Please bring your backpack in by Sunday, December 1st, 2024. 

Testimonies from Receiving Ministries

“Two families came to faith in Jesus as a result of the generosity and gospel opportunity of our backpack outreach.” – Ayman L. – SBCV International Leader, Northern Virginia

“Every school aged child in our town was able to receive a backpack and hear that Jesus loves them. Thank you.” – Billy G. -SBCV Church Planter, Saltville

“Not only did we get to help underprivileged kids (I’m sure that the backpack is all some will get for Christmas) but more importantly we got to share Jesus with others who may not have ever heard about his love.” – Gary O. – SBCV Pastor, Haysi