Park Cities Presbyterian Church (PCA)

God’s might exhibited in the unexpected

By Diane Steele

Published February 1, 2010 in Witness

As Christmas approached, I wondered how PCPC was going to be able to provide the gifts that I had committed to Union Gospel Mission’s Center of Hope. I had told the COH staff that PCPC members would come forward as in the past and generously give what was needed, as well as movie tickets for 70 women and 50 children, and wallets for 70 women. Two weeks before Christmas I had not received one call from a PCPC member wanting to help buy gifts for the homeless women and children.

But God always provides. While no one had called, members were making donations through our Christmas gift tree. And three Sunday school classes that I told about our need responded generously. I had enough funds to buy all the gifts promised and was even able to buy gifts for the women in the discipleship program!

The women and children had a wonderful Christmas this year, not just because of the gifts, but because they were in a warm, clean place where Christ is the center of all the activities. They are nurtured by volunteers and staff, well fed and nicely dressed. In chapel service one night a teenage daughter shared that this was the best Christmas she had ever had! She was touched by the love of strangers and realized that there are many who really do care about her.

One of the disciples came to me a few days before Christmas with big tears rolling down her cheeks. I had placed new devotional books with space for journaling in the disciples’ rooms while they were in class. I enclosed a card with each one with a note of encouragement and signed it, ”Your friends at Park Cities Presbyterian Church.” She was holding onto her book and told me that she had prayed with her chaplain the day before that somehow the Lord would provide a devotional book for her, specifically with room to journal. She was amazed at the quick answer to her prayer and could not wait to tell me and thank all of us.