Diana grew up in Patate, a mountainous region of central Ecuador, in the shadow of the Tungurahua volcano that towers over the province. Her family was poor, so when birthdays and Christmas rolled around each year she would receive well wishes but never a present. Her parents didn’t attend church, but her big sister did. One Sunday, out of curiosity, 8-year-old Diana tagged along with her sister to a worship service and enjoyed it. Two weeks after that first visit, Diana again accompanied her sister to church and was surprised to learn that each child that morning would receive a gift-filled shoebox. “I was really happy to see the shoebox,” Diana, now 28, said. “In my box were many toys, towels, and many wonderful things.” But it wasn’t the newfound treasures in her Operation Christmas Child shoebox that made the biggest impact on her. was the realization that God loved her.
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“That day I felt loved,” Diana said, “because people who didn’t even know me gave me a gift. It changed my life. It was a beautiful gift from God.” It was also the first time that Diana heard the Gospel and learned that Jesus died for her sins. She then began to regularly attend church because she wanted to know more about Jesus and the bible, and become more like the people who loved her enough to give her the shoebox. Eight years later, the seed that was planted in her heart blossomed into a vibrant faith. “When I was 16 years old I gave my life to God,” Diana said. “I received Christ as my Savior. But the seed was planted in my heart when I was 8 years old and received the shoebox.” SHARING GOD’S LOVE THROUGH A SIMPLE SHOEBOX Today, Diana and her husband, Esteban, are coordinators and counselors at Camp Chacauco, a Christian camp and conference center in the Patate Valley, near where Diana grew up. The camps mission is to train leaders for the local church. Recently, Camp Chacauco hosted an Operation Christmas Child shoebox distribution for 60 kids from two churches in Tungurahua Province. Diana and Esteban were on hand to help hand out the boxes to the eager boys and girls. “I love the shoeboxes,” Diana said, “because I hear kids say, ‘I need shoes, I need a towel,’ and then when they open the boxes they see the shoes, they see something they need. It’s a miracle. God knows their needs.” “For some of these children, this will be the first time they have heard about Jesus or have ever heard what a gift is from God.” Esteban added, “Even though they come from a religious background, most of the kids have never heard how much Jesus loves them. What Samaritan’s Purse does with the shoeboxes is to give the kids a clear representation of salvation as a free gift.” Diana and Esteban will now teach many of these youngsters. The Greatest Journey, a 12-lesson discipleship course designed by Samaritan’s Purse for shoebox recipients.
“After you hand out the shoeboxes, there is work still to be done,” Esteban said. “And we’re blessed to be a part of that.”
As Diana looked around at the smiling children at the distribution some of whom were putting on cool sunglasses, hugging plush stuffed animals, and kicking shiny soccer balls around the compound - it reminded her of when she was a young girl and the impact receiving a shoebox had on her. “My prayer is that the love of Jesus will remain in the hearts of every little kid who is here today,” Diana said. “Everything they receive in the shoeboxes may get lost or damaged but what they won’t lose, which is something I have never lost, is the love of God.”
The elementary kids will have a Bake Sale every Sunday during the month of February. They are raising funds to help cover the cost of SuperStart. Be sure to stop in the Connection Café and check out the different treats. This is a donation only Bake Sale.
A couple notes of thanks from Angel Tree participants:
Hello, this is ( xxxxxxxxxxxx), you brought my son some presents from that Angel Tree program. Thank you for what you guys do.
My name is (xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx). I am writing this letter to thank you with all my heart and soul for what you have done for my two children for their Christmas this year. You are wonderful people doing wonderful things. I really do appreciate what you done for us all, even taking your time to send me the card and photo so I could see. The Angel Tree program is the TRUTH. I wish everyone at the Hillsboro Church of Christ blessed holidays.
Health: Barbara Ashley, Jerry Avedisian, Chuck Chaney, Bill Clouse, Evelyn Kisling, Wava Labig, Sidney Lankford, Madisen Link, Ohio Mission Bible Training Center (OMBTC), Shalom Orphanage, Janet Pence, John Roark Sr., Linda Smith, Don Watson, Jesse Weaver, Wayne Wiedenbein, Jim Williams Shut Ins: Ruth Adams, Kim Adams, Jewel Calmes, Eloise Ludwick, John Porter, Carol Setty, Sharon Webb Cancer: Jeffrey Aurigema, Jeff Beam, Rob Butler, Vicki Butler, Kari Crafton, Judy Roush, Mark Sears Family Loss: Jeannette Ludwick family (loss of Jeannette’s father, George Thompson) Missions: The Brittons, the Millers, the Newmans HCC Leadership: Steve Allen, Megan Apgar, Brad Clouse, Roger Epley, Dan Fauber, Trevor Gleadle, Jeff Griffith, Micah Herrick, Mike Labig, James Scott, Richard VanZant Military: Tyler Amos, Ryan Burns, Mark Conover, Thadeus Conover, Corey Hughes, Phillip Mycroft
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02-04-24
AIIM will meet in the Connection Café from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. This session is for middle schoolers.
02-07-24
Back Pack Club from 3:45 to 5:30. Kids choir will resume this day. This is for elementary students and we will meet in the Old Fellowship Hall from 5:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
02-11-24
AIM in the Connection Café from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. This is for middle school kids and is also the last class for this session. VBS meeting right after 2nd worship service. Any one interested in volunteering for VBS should come. If your interested in volunteering but can’t make the meeting, please contact Megan Apgar. VBS will be June 3-7, 2024, from 9:00 am to noon.
02-19-24
No Little Lamb Christian Preschool today (Presidents Day).
02-22-24
MomConnect will meet in the Connection Café from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. MomConnect is a ministry of the Hillsboro Church of Christ where moms gather together and support each other. They meet once a month, usually the last Thursday of the month. Babysitting is available, and a typical meeting looks like this: 5:30 to 6:00 we have a small meal and visit 6:00 we show a video from Right Now Media or have a devotion. After that, one of the leaders will go over the video or devotion and answer any questions or open the floor for discussion. Once in a while they have a special speaker come. This is a gathering place for every mom, from every background, with any story.
02-25-24
T.H.E.O. will meet today right after the 2nd worship service. THEO stands for “They Help Each Other.” This group is mainly single or widowed people of our church. THEO’s purpose is to provide a meal for the family of a departed church member aft er the funeral services. A member will call volunteers to help provide a food item for the dinner, such as a potato dish, green beans, fruit, etc. They also meet once a month, the last Sunday of the month, to share a meal with each other and they have a small devotion before dismissing.
AREA 937 IS COLLECTING CANNED FRUIT
Construction will begin on the 2nd level of the HCC Kids Area beginning February 19, 2024. We estimate a 3-4 week time frame. During this time there will be a couple changes in location of classrooms. The 9:00 a.m. adult Bible study will begin meeting in the Connection Café. The 9:00 a.m. HCC Kids elementary class will meet in the Old Fellowship Hall during this time frame. Check in and check out for the kids will remain the same and at the same location. This classroom location change will begin Sunday, February 25, 2024.
Megan Apgar grew up in Hillsboro. She started attending Hillsboro Church of Christ in 2004. After a few years of being an exceptional volunteer, Megan was called up to lead our children's ministry as the Children's Director in 2017. She was part-time on staff and working as a Teacher's Aide at Hillsboro Elementary. As of 2024, Megan works with us in a full-time capacity as the Children's Minister while also pursuing an accredited certificate program in Children's Ministry through KidMin Academy. She has a gift for seeing the uniqueness in the heart of every child and a passion for sharing the love of Jesus with each of them.
Trevor Gleadle will be joining our staff as a part-time Jr. & Sr. High Minister. He graduated from the University of Cincinnati with a bachelor’s degree in Middle Childhood Education.
Trevor was born and raised in Hillsboro and has been a member of Hillsboro Church of Christ his whole life. While attending the University of Cincinnati, Trevor was blessed to be a part of a campus ministry called h2o Cincinnati. Here, God began to transform his heart to have a passion for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. After college, the responsibilities of being a leader of a family and an educator continued to reinforce that he was a sinner in need of a Savior. In God’s providence, he was led to pursue ministry.
James Scott has a background in systems creation, both in the IT field and in organizational management. After God grabbed ahold of James’ heart in 2015, he has had a growing passion to understand the word of God and connect others to the heart of God. He is pursuing undergrad work with CCCB but, more importantly, pursuing God in His word. His desire is to get as many as possible connected in community through the teachings of and mutual submission to King Jesus.
James and his lovely wife Krystal have two great boys, Kingston and Uriah. James is also a gifted and passionate musician. You might see him helping lead our congregation in worship on Sundays.
SuperStart is coming March 15-16, 2024. You can go to hillsborochurch.net/superstart to learn more and to register. Registration deadline is February 9, 2024. This event is put on by CIY, Christ in Youth. It is a Gospel-Centered, high-energy conference specifically designed for preteens. We will leave the church on Friday, March 15th around 4:15 pm and return on Saturday between 4:00-5:00 pm. This year's conference is held at Lakeside Christian Church, 195 Buttermilk Pike, Lakeside Park, KY 41017. Hotel accommodations are at Wingate by Wyndham, 605 Atlas Air Way, Erlanger, KY 41018. A $20.00 non-refundable deposit is due upon registration. (Registration is a total of$40.00) Registration ends February 9th. The final payment of $20.00 is due February 9th.
Average attendance for the month of January was 381
Average weekly giving for the month of January was $12,120.00 Our weekly need is: $12,564.00
Year-end giving statements are now available. You may call the church office (937) 393-1752 to request a copy of your statement. If you contributed online, you have the ability to go directly to your account and print off your statement, or you can call the church office and we will print a statement for you.
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