CORRYTON, Tenn. (BP) — See the need. Meet the need.

During the 40 years Rockey Ramsey has served as pastor of Corryton Church, it has become part of the congregation’s fabric to respond. It’s not a surprise that the church has a staff position for Pastor of Etc.

Grant Rodgers, the one with that title, got the honor on Dec. 7 of introducing a two-hour free shopping spree for those invited to the Chuckey Christmas Party in Chuckey, Tenn. Families thought they were coming for a meal and a gift. They left with enough of the latter to fill a truck bed. Every child received an age-appropriate bicycle.

The outreach began in 2002 after tornadoes swept through the Mossy Grove community near Wartburg. Corryton Church provided Christmas to some uninsured families — TVs, microwaves, vacuums, tool sets and cleaning supplies. One family received a fully-furnished, decorated and stocked double-wide mobile home.

“The church had a great time showing the love of Jesus to those people,” said Ramsey. “So, they decided to make an annual habit of it.”

Over the last 22 years, he estimates, Corryton has provided nearly $1 million in gifts and goods to families in East Tennessee, Virginia and Kentucky. Two years ago, they helped rebuild a church, built a home for a pastor and provided gifts to families affected by flooding in Hazard, Ky. Last year, 36 families in Hawkins County, Tennessee, received the gifts and meal.

Chuckey joined the long list of small communities impacted by flooding from Hurricane Helene this fall. A main bridge collapsed into the Nolichucky River while several smaller ones also fell due to the waters and debris.

South Central Elementary School hosted the party this year as Rodgers introduced the shopping spree. Children remained in the gym, playing games and “shopping” for parents. Meanwhile, parents moved among several rooms set up like a game show where they had five minutes to select items before a bell signaled them to another room. Church members guided them along and helped transport the goods afterwards.

“The Corryton Christmas parties have become the best part of Christmas for many of our members,” Ramsey said. “As Jesus said in Acts 20:35 — ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

The church took an additional step this year. Several church members knew of Brandi Bible, a Chuckey kindergarten teacher and single mother whose home was flooded and who had to be rescued by canoe.

Waters destroyed everything below 4 feet in the home, Ramsey said.

Southern Baptist Disaster Relief workers provided major cleanup work and sprayed what could possibly be salvaged for mold. From their rebuilding experiences two years earlier in Kentucky, church members felt confident they could help Bible the rest of the way. Their team ended up including some from the church in Hazard.

Outside donations to the effort came to approximately $22,000. A Kentucky church donated $6,000 toward new furniture. Corryton members and their businesses contributed alongside others.

The new, fully-furnished and remodeled home was presented to Bible on the same day as the Chuckey Christmas Party — Dec. 7.

“Corryton Church has been richly blessed for its generosity over the years,” Ramsey said. “Members get as much joy out of giving as the recipients do out of receiving.”

(EDITOR’S NOTE — Scott Barkley is chief national correspondent for Baptist Press.)