by Leisa Parsons, Area Media Specialist
The season is shinning brightly in Seguin with this year’s Stable Project. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint’s Seguin congregation is, once again, holding their light high during the Light the World initiative.
For the second year in a row, the “Texas Giving Machine” built by the Seguin youth, is being employed for good. This year the emphasis has changed from helping outfit apartments for Afghan refugees to local charities. Last year, this group was responsible for furnishing 55 apartments for the refugees.
Jordan Johnson, age 17, who helped build the Giving Machine last year said: “This year, we’re helping two organizations. We’re helping Seguin Youth Services, the city’s youth center here in Seguin…. We’re also helping TruLight Ministries. Basically, we got a list of things that they need. We’re going to do the same thing we did last year. Whether it’s food items or clothing or gift cards.”
They will collect the items that people purchase via the QR codes on their Giving Machine. Those items will then be distributed to the two organizations. Johnson said: “We will take it over there, and bond with the kids a little bit and just have fun.”
Wayne Felix, a member of the Seguin congregation, explained more about the two charities. He said the Seguin Youth Services “is an after school care facility, Monday thru Friday. It’s only run by three individuals. The first hour they pick them up from school and they do homework. They feed them dinner and do different activities until about 7 o’clock and then the kids go home….The other charity we’re working with is TrueLight Ministries. They’re a foster care facility, both short-term and long-term for 35 individuals.
Speaking of TruLight ministries, Johnson added “We’ve been up there a couple of times and we’ve played football and surveyed the area to see what we could do to help them. With Seguin Youth Services we did the same thing. We’re actually building a second Giving Machine over there to help both of those causes.” The second Giving Machine, which will be a bit shorter than the first, will function with QR codes too.
The Seguin congregation kicked off this year’s Light the World efforts by participating in Seguin’s Lighted Holiday Parade on December 1st. Their float featured the Texas Giving Machine, fog, music and a whole lot of participants clad in red Light the World t-shirts following behind and waving at the city’s spectators. The parade featured 93 entries all lit up to ring in the holiday season.
On Friday, the 2nd, they had a large presence at Seguin’s “Sip ‘n Stroll” event in their downtown square. The beautifully decorated square would make most Hallmark producers green with envy. There are booths of all kinds handing out hot chocolate as participants walk around. The Church in Seguin had a large outdoor nativity, a giant screen showing The Nativity video and of course, the Texas Giving Machine.
Those strolling around were encouraged to take one of the cards off of the Giving Machine, scan the QR code and purchase something for one of the local charities.
The Church’s Seguin congregation continued to usher in the season by hosting a “Night in Bethlehem” on the 3rd at their meetinghouse. The Giving Machine had a prominent place in the lobby. They began the evening with a concert by members of the Church and the community.
The community event featured dozens of nativity scenes. They had a large creche allowing children to dress up in costumes and participate in a live nativity and get pictures. There was a children’s area where they could play and touch several nativities and do Christmas crafts. Outside they had a life size nativity with benches.
People could go outside grab cocoa and sit and listen to music. They could also scan one of the QR codes and watch several different Christmas videos produced by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The Giving Machine will travel tomorrow to the First United Bank in Seguin where it will be available to anyone who would like to donate to either of the charities. Can’t make it to Seguin? You can still support their efforts by scanning the QR code above.
Sister Doane, a missionary for the Church serving in the Texas San Antonio Mission had so much fun participating in this weekend’s Light the World activities. She said: “The focus of missionaries is to bring people closer to Jesus Christ. With the holiday season, it’s the perfect time to talk about Christ and to spread the light He brings and feel the spirit of Christmas, because the Spirit of Christmas is the Holy Spirit which is the Spirit of God. So it’s all about sharing messages and bringing people closer to Jesus Christ.”
