Changing Lives - One Backpack at a Time

The road to Appalachia was once again paved with love and prayers, as a good Samaritan drove a 53ft. semitrailer loaded with approximately 840 Christmas Backpacks making its way to Appalachia. They were headed south to be delivered for Christmas to impoverished children who live in the most poverty-stricken areas in Kentucky, Tennessee and Virginia. 

The Christmas backpacks were being brought in from all over Ohio to Rolling Hills Baptist Church in Fairfield Ohio, where the SCBO Annual Meeting was taking place November 4th thru November 5th. 

Doug Brooks, from West Central Baptist Association, used his truck and trailer to bring in 540 Christmas backpacks from 10 Churches and a physician’s office. “A BIG THANK YOU” to The House on the Rock Fellowship in Piqua, Ohio, for letting me store these backpacks in their facility and for the members who helped load the trailer. “A Big THANK YOU” to Doug Brooks for making it possible that all these backpacks were delivered to Rolling Hills Baptist Church. 

Sam Kelley, from SCBO Disaster Relief, brought in backpacks from the SCBO Office, loaded in the Ohio Southern Baptists on Mission Trailer. There were 120 at the SCBO office, brought there by Duane Floro, who picked them up from the Seneca Lake Fall Women’s Retreat. There were another 180 brought in by other churches, at the Annual Meeting and loaded on the trailer in Fairfield while awaiting the arrival of the semitrailer. “A BIG THANK YOU’’ to Duane Floro and Sam Kelley for all their help and traveling on this Appalachian mission journey with me. 

A “BIG THANK YOU” to Rolling Hills Baptist Church Senior Pastor Danny Rollins and Youth Pastor Daniel Keaton for involving the Youth in helping to unload the trailers when they arrived at the church. 

Last but not least, “A BIG THANK YOU” to everyone in the churches and the associations who had a part in providing these Christmas backpacks. We couldn’t have done it without your participation. These Christmas backpacks make it possible for these children to have a blessed Christmas. 

Ryan Martin, our Appalachian missionary, “A BIG THANK YOU” for having a “heart for Appalachia” and coordinating the distribution of the Christmas backpacks. 

Barbara A. DeLorme 
SCBO WMU Coordinator for the 
Appalachian Mountain Ministry Christmas Backpacks 
E-mail: 11kidsnanny@gmail.com 
Phone: (937) 609-0231