2019 Christmas Backpack Goal: 35,000
This project will include children and teens ages up to 17 years of age residing in Appalachia as well as in the most poverty stricken counties in Southwest Georgia. All Georgia Baptist churches can help meet the physical and spiritual needs of these children and teens by participating in meeting this goal.
Registration will open soon for 2019.
Thank you for your interest in Christmas Backpacks for children and teens!
Information regarding Christmas Backpacks Ministry Adoption Sites will be posted no later than June 1, 2019.
Resources (see tab) such as the bulletin inserts, flyers, and gift suggestions have been been updated for your use in 2019.
Delivery options and drop-off sites will be posted no later than August 1, 2019.
Delivery Options: Information and drop-off sites will be posted no later than August 1, 2019.
1. Destination
A. Backpacks may be collected and taken to a location you already have a partnership with within Appalachia or Georgia. (Online registration is still required.)
B. You may adopt a ministry site through the list on the online registration form. (You can view the available sites prior to registering by clicking the “Ministry Sites to Adopt” on the Resources tab.)
C. You may take your collected backpacks to the Georgia Baptist Convention Annual Meeting or to one of other collection sites in the state. These backpacks will fill the unmet needs at sites that have not been adopted.
2. Transportation: Backpacks will only be picked up at the sites in Georgia (2019 info available at a later date).
FAQ
Q: Why did the name change to Christmas Backpacks?
A: As of 2018 the Christmas Backpacks for Children and Teens came under the Appalachian Mountain Ministry of the Georgia Baptist Mission Board. Bill Barker serves as the National Director of this ministry.
Q: What’s our goal for 2019?
A: 35,000! We encourage you to set a goal for your church and/or association.
Q: What is my first step to participate in Christmas Backpacks?
A: Review all the tabs on this website for the guidelines and basic information. 2019 registration will be available at a later date. Stay tuned for more information on the registration process.
Q: If I am already partnering with a ministry site, do I still need to register?
A: YES. This will help us ensure that all sites requests are being met and will prompt the mailing of the required printed materials to you that go in each backpack.
Q: Are there any changes to the Christmas Backpack project for 2019?
A: Yes, there are two:
- There is an updated flyer with the new details of what should go in each backpack. The flyer is called “Christmas Backpacks Gift Suggestions” and is located on the Resources tab.
- Instead of a backpack tag, this year each backpack will need two ribbons tied to them – a Gender ribbon (Blue or Pink) and anAge ribbon (Age Purple = Ages 2-3; Yellow = Ages 4-7; Green = Ages 8- 10; Red = Ages 11-14; White = 15-17). The ribbons will need to be provided and tied to each backpack by the person (or church) supplying the backpack. The drop-off sites will not have ribbons available.
Q: Who do I contact if I need more of the “Christmas Story?”
A: Email your request to bbarker@gabaptist.org.
Q: Can we help with the distribution of backpacks at the ministry site?
A: Yes. One of the options is for you to adopt a site for personal involvement. You may do this as an individual church or join with your local association.
Q: What areas are Georgia Baptists focusing on?
A: In Georgia, Kentucky, New York, and Tennessee. In Southwest Georgia: Locations in Bethel Baptist Association and Summerhill Baptist Association.
Q: I’d like to adopt a site but don’t think I can handle transportation of the backpacks that far. What do I do?
A: Since one of the criteria of adopting a site is to deliver the backpacks to that site, your best option would be to bring your backpacks to one of the collection sites in Georgia (to be posted on this website by late summer). Keep in mind that all backpacks that come through the Georgia Baptist Mission Board collection sites will be used to fill the gaps. If you bring your backpacks to one of our collection sites, we cannot guarantee which ministry site they will go to.
Q: I can’t find anyone in my association to take the backpacks to one of the collection sites.
A: Call Bill Barker at 770-936-5273 or 404-538-2895 (cell).
Q: Can I put a Bible in the backpack?
A: Absolutely. (Recommended version: God’s Word. Other versions: Holman Christian Standard, NEW King James, any other easy to read version, or King James.)
Q: I want to adopt a ministry site but can’t fill the quota that they’re asking for. Is that okay?
A: Yes. Once this registration process is on the website, choose your Ministry Adoption site and list how many backpacks you can commit.
Q: Other than putting a copy of “The Christmas Story,” tying a Gender and Age ribbon to each bag, and packing and sealing them in medium size packing boxes (18x18x16), is there anything else we need to do on our end?
A: No. All other processing will be done at the ministry sites.
Q: Who do I contact if I have any questions about the Christmas Backpacks Project?
A: Please email all questions and needs to bbarker@gabaptist.org. Your email will be routed to the appropriate person to respond. If after you have emailed you feel you need to speak with someone directly, call 1-800-746-4422 and ask to speak to someone regarding Christmas Backpacks.
Bulletin inserts, the flyers, and Christmas Backpacks Gift Suggestions have all been updated for your use in 2019.
Downloads
Bulletin Insert (Black and White)
Flyer (8 1/2 x 11 – Black and White)
Christmas Backpacks Gift Suggestions Instructions (How to Pack a Backpack)
Christmas Backpacks Gift Suggestions Instructions – Black and White (How to Pack a Backpack)
The Christmas Story (NOTE – this will be shipped to all registered Georgia Baptist Organizations.)
Videos
NOTE: After page loads, look below video for “Download” button and click to choose download format.
2019 Christmas Backpack Goal: 35,000
This project will include children and teens ages up to 17 years of age residing in Appalachia as well as in the most poverty stricken counties in Southwest Georgia. All Georgia Baptist churches can help meet the physical and spiritual needs of these children and teens by participating in meeting this goal.
Registration will open soon for 2019.
Thank you for your interest in Christmas Backpacks for children and teens!
Information regarding Christmas Backpacks Ministry Adoption Sites will be posted no later than June 1, 2019.
Resources (see tab) such as the bulletin inserts, flyers, and gift suggestions have been been updated for your use in 2019.
Delivery options and drop-off sites will be posted no later than August 1, 2019.
Delivery Options: Information and drop-off sites will be posted no later than August 1, 2019.
1. Destination
A. Backpacks may be collected and taken to a location you already have a partnership with within Appalachia or Georgia. (Online registration is still required.)
B. You may adopt a ministry site through the list on the online registration form. (You can view the available sites prior to registering by clicking the “Ministry Sites to Adopt” on the Resources tab.)
C. You may take your collected backpacks to the Georgia Baptist Convention Annual Meeting or to one of other collection sites in the state. These backpacks will fill the unmet needs at sites that have not been adopted.
2. Transportation: Backpacks will only be picked up at the sites in Georgia (2019 info available at a later date).
FAQ
Q: Why did the name change to Christmas Backpacks?
A: As of 2018 the Christmas Backpacks for Children and Teens came under the Appalachian Mountain Ministry of the Georgia Baptist Mission Board. Bill Barker serves as the National Director of this ministry.
Q: What’s our goal for 2019?
A: 35,000! We encourage you to set a goal for your church and/or association.
Q: What is my first step to participate in Christmas Backpacks?
A: Review all the tabs on this website for the guidelines and basic information. 2019 registration will be available at a later date. Stay tuned for more information on the registration process.
Q: If I am already partnering with a ministry site, do I still need to register?
A: YES. This will help us ensure that all sites requests are being met and will prompt the mailing of the required printed materials to you that go in each backpack.
Q: Are there any changes to the Christmas Backpack project for 2019?
A: Yes, there are two:
- There is an updated flyer with the new details of what should go in each backpack. The flyer is called “Christmas Backpacks Gift Suggestions” and is located on the Resources tab.
- Instead of a backpack tag, this year each backpack will need two ribbons tied to them – a Gender ribbon (Blue or Pink) and anAge ribbon (Age Purple = Ages 2-3; Yellow = Ages 4-7; Green = Ages 8- 10; Red = Ages 11-14; White = 15-17). The ribbons will need to be provided and tied to each backpack by the person (or church) supplying the backpack. The drop-off sites will not have ribbons available.
Q: Who do I contact if I need more of the “Christmas Story?”
A: Email your request to bbarker@gabaptist.org.
Q: Can we help with the distribution of backpacks at the ministry site?
A: Yes. One of the options is for you to adopt a site for personal involvement. You may do this as an individual church or join with your local association.
Q: What areas are Georgia Baptists focusing on?
A: In Georgia, Kentucky, New York, and Tennessee. In Southwest Georgia: Locations in Bethel Baptist Association and Summerhill Baptist Association.
Q: I’d like to adopt a site but don’t think I can handle transportation of the backpacks that far. What do I do?
A: Since one of the criteria of adopting a site is to deliver the backpacks to that site, your best option would be to bring your backpacks to one of the collection sites in Georgia (to be posted on this website by late summer). Keep in mind that all backpacks that come through the Georgia Baptist Mission Board collection sites will be used to fill the gaps. If you bring your backpacks to one of our collection sites, we cannot guarantee which ministry site they will go to.
Q: I can’t find anyone in my association to take the backpacks to one of the collection sites.
A: Call Bill Barker at 770-936-5273 or 404-538-2895 (cell).
Q: Can I put a Bible in the backpack?
A: Absolutely. (Recommended version: God’s Word. Other versions: Holman Christian Standard, NEW King James, any other easy to read version, or King James.)
Q: I want to adopt a ministry site but can’t fill the quota that they’re asking for. Is that okay?
A: Yes. Once this registration process is on the website, choose your Ministry Adoption site and list how many backpacks you can commit.
Q: Other than putting a copy of “The Christmas Story,” tying a Gender and Age ribbon to each bag, and packing and sealing them in medium size packing boxes (18x18x16), is there anything else we need to do on our end?
A: No. All other processing will be done at the ministry sites.
Q: Who do I contact if I have any questions about the Christmas Backpacks Project?
A: Please email all questions and needs to bbarker@gabaptist.org. Your email will be routed to the appropriate person to respond. If after you have emailed you feel you need to speak with someone directly, call 1-800-746-4422 and ask to speak to someone regarding Christmas Backpacks.
Bulletin inserts, the flyers, and Christmas Backpacks Gift Suggestions have all been updated for your use in 2019.
Downloads
Bulletin Insert (Black and White)
Flyer (8 1/2 x 11 – Black and White)
Christmas Backpacks Gift Suggestions Instructions (How to Pack a Backpack)
Christmas Backpacks Gift Suggestions Instructions – Black and White (How to Pack a Backpack)
The Christmas Story (NOTE – this will be shipped to all registered Georgia Baptist Organizations.)
Videos
NOTE: After page loads, look below video for “Download” button and click to choose download format.