Legacy of the Shoe Box Ministry
During the 1970s, the Church of God asked the state of Mississippi to provide shoes for the Home for Children (Smoky Mountain Children’s Home) in Sevierville, Tenn. A faithful member of Mississippi’s Grenada Church of God, Bernice Jackson, had a burden for this particular ministry and began to collect money for the project. She affectionately called it her Shoe Box Ministry.
By Virginia Grubbs
Her goal was to provide the children new shoes for Christmas. At the time, shoes were $5 a pair, and her goal was to collect $50 that year. She met this initial goal. The next year she would set her goal to raise $100, and again the goal was met. As the years went by, she would set her goal even higher.
Bernice extended her requests for help beyond the church. When her family or friends would gather in her home, she would set the Shoe Box out and ask if anyone wanted to donate, and many would respond. On many occasions, she received money for her birthday or Christmas and would end up placing her personal gifts into the box. She continued her giving until the year of 2007, when she finally retired the Shoe Box. By the time she retired, her offering was well over $2,000 annually.
The SMCH project for Mississippi changed over the years, but when Bernice found out about it, she replied, “Well, I am still going to raise money for shoes, because I know the children will still have to have shoes!” So, she did!
Praise God for her burden for the Smoky Mountain Children’s Home, as well as for World Missions. Ms. Jackson also had a desire to help in the state’s mission endeavors. She would keep a list of names and would go each month to the individuals and collect from them their monthly contribution for missions. The Grenada Church of God has received many awards for being the top mission’s contributor because of the dedication of one faithful woman doing what God laid upon her heart.
Recently Dr. Walt Mauldin, Executive Director of the Smoky Mountain Children’s Home was invited to speak at the Grenada Church of God. At the end of the service, Pastor James McElroy brought out Bernice Jackson’s Shoe Box and asked people to place their offering in Bernice’s Shoe Box. What a blessing to see the same Shoe Box that was used in raising thousands of dollars for children!
Bernice Jackson lived to be 91 and was a very loving and giving lady! I am proud to have the privilege to call her my mother.
(Source: Smoky Mountain Children’s Home)
