“Bless!” an Illinois Baptist friend says frequently, having picked up the abbreviated version of “bless your heart.” Well, it’s time to bless again.
As messengers prepare to come to Springfield for the 2025 IBSA Annual Meeting, Nov. 4-5, their churches are invited to gather supplies for IBSA ministries, pack a box, and send it to the meeting for distribution across Illinois.
This is the fourth year for Boxes of Blessings. Compassion ministries such as Children’s Activity Center in East St. Louis, Pathways Counseling, Grace Haven Pregnancy Resource Clinic and Angels’ Cove Maternity Home in Mt. Vernon, and Baptist Children’s Home residential cottages in Carmi are all blessed by the annual collection.
These facilities need all kinds of supplies, including diapers, wipes, hygiene items to make personal care kits, half-gallon and gallon size Ziplock bags, toboggan style winter hats, gloves, and socks. Lots of socks.
A full list is posted at IBSAannualmeeting.org.
“When an item on the list is given to our partners, we are filling their storerooms with items they use to bless others,” said IBSA Missions Director Shannon Ford, who organizes the collection. “Our gifts empower others and are shared hand in hand with the gospel.”
More than 700 specially labeled boxes are being distributed at associational meetings in September and October to be filled and returned in November. Churches may contact their local association to obtain a Blessing Box to fill.