Mission Accomplished

After his parents toured Olive Branch Mission on a weekend trip to Chicago last fall, 12-year-old Nathan (Nate) Stein-Kiander — and his friend Audriana (Audri) Boomgaard-Kerr — decided that they, too, could do something for people in need, just as the Christ-centered frontline ministry does. Olive Branch Mission, a member of the Free Methodist denomination's Association of Human Service Ministries (AHSM), has been serving the downtrodden and disenfranchised in the Chicago area as far back as 1867. Today its ministry reaches out from there — to faraway places like Africa and Jamaica.

The two missions-minded young people decided to raise money and purchase gifts for children who would be staying at the mission over Christmas. Specifically, they wanted to buy and wrap a gift for each child so that everyone would have something with his or her name on it to open Christmas morning. They set a goal of raising at least $800 so they could spend $10 each for the 80 expected kids. They also obtained "wish lists" from the children's parents so they could purchase specifically hoped-for items.

The two young friends wrote and distributed a fundraising letter, and personally did all the shopping, wrapping and delivering (with a little help from Nate's mom, Shila, who provided chauffeuring and general encouragement).

God really blessed the efforts of Nate and Audri, and they raised more than $1,900, allowing them to purchase more gifts than expected and even make stockings for the children's moms — filling them with personal hygiene items. They donated their leftover cash to Olive Branch Mission for a special project.

Once the other kids at Cedar Springs Free Methodist Church in Michigan (where Nate attends) found out about the project, they wanted to be involved as well. The church's Christian Life Club ran a coat drive and collected more than 100 coats for delivery along with the presents.

As they wrapped their mound of gifts, Nate and Audri prayed over each and every one — for the child who would receive it. Then, in early December, they delivered them. Mission accomplished!