What We’re Grateful For…
November 27, 2013
This Thanksgiving, the Elim community is grateful for:
- Our Father God, for His Creation, and for our lives
- Our Savior Jesus, whose teachings and mercy mold us each day, and whose sacrifice made it possible for us to be with Him
- The Holy Spirit, who works in us each day to sanctify us and prepare us for our service
- For HOPE Packs, an amazing ministry in over 40 churches
- Bob, who has become known as "Bob the Toy Man" to all the children he's blessed at a nearby hospital
- Over 280 children who come to Elim each day to learn about God and pursue their place in His Kingdom, who each day work to achieve their highest God-given potential
- An Elim graduate who made his own dreams, and the dreams of others, come true at Disney
- Almost 220 adults who have disabilities and bless others throughout our world by packaging HOPE Packs, bean packs, and military kits
- We're grateful for the Coleman Foundation, who will be doubling all online gifts to Elim on December 3, 2013
- Over 500 children in local Christian schools across the country who are reminded through our Discovery centers that just because they learn differently doesn’t mean they don't still have a purpose and a place in God's kingdom
- The most amazing Dutch Festival ever, bringing in thousands of visitors and raising funds to buy lots and lots of vehicles, equipment, and other essentials for Elim’s mission
- 5 international ministry leaders in Rwanda, Thailand, India, Zimbabwe, and Nicaragua
- That our Elim staff in Illinois is having an impact on the other side of the world, throughout the country of Rwanda
- Over 450 committed staff members, every one of whom is committed to Elim's mission
- That our students are constantly reminded that God has gifted them to bless others
- Our core values, keeping us focused on Elim's mission each day: that Elim is Christ-centered, that we affirm the purpose and value of each person here, and that we are creating a learning and sharing community.
- That Candice knows she can make a difference
- Your impact here.
- Hearing that Discovery programs are making it possible for students to stay in their Christian schools
- For people are interacting with us on Facebook, on Twitter, and now on Pinterest too!
- That Cindy is growing in independence each and every day
- For the Commission on the Accreditation of Rehabilitative Facilities, who think our Adult Services program is top-notch!
- That our therapy dog could be a blessing in Newtown and in many other ways, even in our own community, alongside Elim students
- For an autism program for adults that is making a difference in the lives of folks like Jerry
- Seeing how something as simple as an electronic piece of equipment can make communication a reality in Reagan’s life
- For Angelina, and the many ways she has grown at Elim, and blessed her classmates
- For all the people who volunteer in our classrooms and throughout Elim in so many ways
- For a Worship Team that has blessed dozens of churches and thousands of believers, and for the amazing ministry they continue to pursue (did you know they're booked through late 2014?)
- For all our wonderful partners out there, through Intersect for Ability, through the Elim International Outreach Network, for Food for the Hungry and Lampstand Ministries and so many others
- To see dozens of opportunities for Elim athletes to use their skills and pursue their passions
- For hundreds of businesses who sacrifice to make sure Elim has what it needs each year
- To hear how happy Krissy and her family are since they found Elim
- For almost 200 churches that get involved with Elim and pursue the Kingdom alongside us
- For the ways in which Elim’s work is advancing the cause of people with disabilities and changing attitudes toward people with disabilities, worldwide
- For thousands of individual and family supporters who believe in what Elim is doing and are part of this mission each year, and sometimes every single month
- For how adults with disabilities are given many opportunities to serve and bless others
- For the Tootsie Roll Drive, the PSA, the Eagles’ Wings 5K, the Scott’s Garage and Schepel Buick/GMC Car Shows, the Dutch Festival, the Hostess Supper, the Have-a-Heart Brunch, and the Fine Arts Night
- For the amazing members of the Women’s Service League, who have been helping Elim since 1958
- For how technology gives Patrick a voice
- For Firehouse Subs where you’ll find Liz, Lone Star Steakhouse, and Country House Restaurant (where Wayne found his perfect fit)
- For devoted servants who went on our Nicaragua Outreach Trip
- To hear from family members of students what a blessing Elim has been
Today, we're thankful for so many things, and we are especially grateful for you. Your support, your prayers, your hours of devoted volunteering and your efforts to include people with disabilities in your churches and communities – all these things are advancing the mission of Elim and building God's Kingdom. That's what this day, and this list, is really all about. Ultimately, we are most grateful to God for His provision, for His love and mercy, and for giving Elim a mission that is so much bigger than us, that it requires you.
Non-discrimination Policy:
It is the Standard of Elim Christian Services to admit children and adults to agency services regardless of race, color, national and ethnic origin, to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to agency service recipients. Elim Christian Services does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered policies. Read Full Disclosure.