Red Oak United Methodist Church to hold toy

Red Oak United Methodist Church will give away toys for children in Stockbridge. (Photo by cottonbro studio from Pexels)

Red Oak United Methodist Church (UMC) in Stockbridge, Georgia, will hold its 9th Christmas toy giveaway on Wednesday, Dec. 7, for children aged 15 and below.

Based on the church's Facebook post, the annual event is called "Adopt a Christmas Toy Giveaway" and will be in partnership with Community Development For Real People (CD4RP), a nonprofit organization, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Last year's toy giveaway served 400 children despite the threat of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. To fulfill requests from 2021, the organization said it is raising enough money for families in need, the post bared.

According to the organization, choosing gifts for kids ages 12 to 15 will be challenging, so they will accept toys until the day of the event. Sponsors will also be acknowledged on the same day.

Adopt A Family Sponsorship Levels ranges from platinum to gold, silver, and bronze.

Individuals who want to help were told they may drop their donations at CD4RP Community Assistance Center at 1781 Hwy 42N, McDonough, Georgia, or send them via Paypal (https://www.paypal.me/BecauseWeCareHenryAS), CashApp ($CD4RP) or Zelle (6785712477).

Community Development for Real People

Based on its social media page, CD4RP gives food to underprivileged families each week

It added that the public aid donated to CD4RP provides students with book bags for their education, turkeys for Thanksgiving to battle hunger, and toys for Christmas.

Red Oak United Methodist Church

Early in 1866, a small group of Christians assembled in Henry County, Georgia, to worship our Redeemer and express their love for God, according to its website.

Mr. Jim Lee gave them two acres of land in the spring of that same year.

Moreover, their history page said Joe Hinson and Simon Steward were the two founding members of Red Oak United Methodist Church.

Leadership

L.K. Pendleton, a minister and social justice activist, serves as the pastor of Red Oak UMC. She is also known as Pastor K.

Per the church's about page, the pastor served as a preacher and minister for religious communities and government agencies in the United States, Africa, and Panama,

The website said she collaborates with religious leaders and adherents around Georgia to organize and strengthen political influence in their neighborhoods as the director of the New Georgia Project.

She believes that when people involve communities of faith in carrying out justice work, they fulfill Jesus' great commission to go into the world and carry out their duties as his followers, the site revealed.

Pendleton recognized her call to the ministry early in life and has worked in various positions for the academy and the church. In the North Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church, she received elder ordination in 2003, the church page said.

She has served as the founding pastor of Redemption Community, A United Methodist Congregation in Atlanta, and as an associate pastor at Central United Methodist Church in Atlanta from 2000 to 2001, her biography said.

Pastor K also worked as a senior pastor at St. Mary's Road UMC in Columbus, Georgia, from 2013 to 2020, where she was the first female senior pastor. She also served at New Prospect UMC in Buford, Georgia, from 2011 to 2013, where she was the first woman of color and female pastor, the website said.