New Life in Christ Church in Florida is partnering with Samaritan’s Purse to spread the Gospel as a base for U.S. Disaster Relief and a drop-off location for Operation Christmas Child.
Pastors of New Life in Christ Church in Punta Gorda, Florida, had been praying that God would bring revival to their congregation and to their community. They didn’t want the Gospel to just stay inside the walls of their church. However, they never imagined that God would answer their prayers through a fierce hurricane named Ian.
New Life in Christ Church in Punta Gorda, Florida, became a base of operations and host church for our U.S. Disaster Relief teams. The congregation also is serving as an Operation Christmas Child shoebox drop-off location.
Ian took direct aim at Punta Gorda in late September. The Category 4 storm thrashed the city of nearly 20,000 residents with torrential rain and raging winds for several hours. Roofs were ripped off or peeled back from homes, which allowed tremendous rainfall to pour in unabated.
Pastor Mike Loomis’s home was among those damaged. So was Tim Buck’s, New Life’s youth pastor. His house was so badly damaged that he may not be able to move back into it until the spring or possibly summer. No one in Punta Gorda escaped unscathed. And neither did New Life’s campus. Seven of its nine buildings were damaged.
Mike Loomis, pastor of New Life in Christ Church, said the congregation has been praying for revival in the area. The Hurricane Ian relief response has opened up doors for Gospel ministry in Punta Gorda.
It would have been easy—and understandable—if the New Life staff and congregation decided to focus inward during this troubling season. Instead, they decided to embrace this difficult time and use it as an opportunity to proclaim the Gospel. They’re partnering with Samaritan’s Purse to do this in two ways: by serving as a host church for a U.S. Disaster Relief team and by serving as a drop-off location for Operation Christmas Child during National Collection Week, Nov. 14-21.
“Samaritan’s Purse is allowing us to reach into the community with the Gospel in ways we couldn’t before and love on our neighbors and also on our church members,” said Angela Hinchman, another of the church’s pastors. “It’s such a blessing to have people come and serve in the Name of Jesus.”
Thus far, 102 people have accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior through the relief work being done by Samaritan’s Purse in Punta Gorda and through the witness of Billy Graham Rapid Response Team chaplains. Each of these new believers is being followed up by a team from New Life, and many of them are now attending church services there. Attendance in the contemporary service has nearly tripled since Ian struck, from around 160 to 432 on a recent Sunday morning.
During National Collection Week, people dropped off and prayed over shoebox gifts that God would use them for Gospel opportunities around the world.
“Many people would not have come on our campus if not for Samaritan’s Purse being here,” Tim said. “Now we have the opportunity to minister to them long term.”
Called to Share Good News
New Life in Christ Church has been an Operation Christmas Child drop-off location for many years, and Debbie Harrington, the church’s drop-off team coordinator, wasn’t about to let a storm prevent them from participating this year.
Debbie Harrington, the church’s drop-off team coordinator, was especially determined to make her church a drop-off location this year.
“I didn’t even entertain the thought of not being a drop-off location this year,” Debbie said. “As Franklin Graham reminds us, God has called us to share the Good News. We collected 616 shoeboxes yesterday (Nov. 14), the first day of National Collection Week. That’s 616 children who will now have the opportunity to hear the Gospel. To not be a drop-off location or not pack shoeboxes this year would be like canceling Christmas. We weren’t going to do that to these children.”
Angela agreed. “Kids in need didn’t disappear because a hurricane blew through Punta Gorda. If we are so focused on ourselves, then we miss the chance to share the Gospel to the nations and miss out on participating in the Great Commission. People just need to know that you care and love them and that you are going to show up. And a shoebox is a great way to do that.”
New Life’s shoebox packing goal was around 300 this year. Debbie feared because of the storm that that number might not be met. But she got a surprise.
“Some Samaritan’s Purse volunteers are attending our church and have taken shoeboxes from the church,” she said. “They’re shopping in their free time and packing boxes and then bringing them back. It’s amazing and it’s all God. He’s reassuring us that He will take care of us and that He’s in control.”
“A Wonderful Blend”
Partnering with Samaritan’s Purse in disaster relief and Operation Christmas Child was a “no-brainer,” Mike Loomis said.
Samaritan’s Purse volunteers have been serving in three locations in southwest Florida, including in Punta Gorda.
“Samaritan’s Purse is a wonderful blend of being the hands and feet of Jesus and sharing the Gospel,” he said. “It’s not either/or. Practical needs are met. Roofs are tarped. Debris is cleared. Shoeboxes are packed and delivered. But Samaritan’s Purse also gives people the opportunity to respond to the Gospel or to rededicate their lives to Christ. To combine the practical with the spiritual is just a wonderful blend and it’s what the body of Christ is supposed to be about.”
Nearly 900 disaster relief volunteers have served so far in Punta Gorda, helping more than 500 homeowners in Jesus’ Name.
Samaritan’s Purse continues to receive volunteers at our Hurricane Ian relief bases in Punta Gorda (New Life in Christ Church), Englewood, and Fort Myers, Florida. If you’re interested, go to spvolunteer.org to learn more.
Please continue to pray for the people of Punta Gorda and southwest Florida, and for all our teams as they serve in Jesus’ Name.
If you haven’t already, pack an Operation Christmas Child shoebox gift and bring it to a drop-off location near you. National Collection Week ends Nov. 21.
Local families participated in packing shoebox gifts.
