Bling for the Souls event brings blessings

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NEW CANEY—The opportunity to fellowship, show off their decorating skills and bless someone else drew more women than anyone could have guessed to the inaugural Bling for the Souls event held at Bethel Baptist Church in New Caney.

Bethel Baptist Church in New Caney was the site for the Children's Emergency Relief International's first Bling for Souls event. Women decorated shoes for themselves at others during the evening.

Bling for the Souls is a program to bless others as well as spread the word about Children's Emergency Relief International, said Gretchen Lange, CERI's director of development.

Bethel Baptist Church has sent teams to Moldova with CERI to provide orphans with boots to keep their feet dry and warm during winter.

That partnership made it a natural extension for the first Bling for the Souls event to be held at the Southeast Texas church, she said.

About 75 women of all ages attended the event. Most decorated flipflop sandals, but others chose to bling out athletic shoes and even picture frames.

The church, which has an average of less than 200 in attendance, was delighted at the number who came.

"We were thrilled at how well-attended it was," said Julie Davis, the pastor's wife and one of the organizers of the event. "One of our goals was for this to be an outreach event, and that is what happened. We not only had ladies from other churches in the area come, but some brought friends who don't have a church home."

The night started with finger foods, followed by a short description by Lange on the ministry of the children's relief organization, which is affiliated with Baptist Child & Family Services.


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She also outlined the idea of the evening: Decorate two pairs of shoes identically—one to keep and one to give away.

"The idea was not to decorate shoes for donation to the children we provide for, but instead for them to wear their shoes and when someone says, 'What cute shoes,' they have a pair to give that person and also an opportunity to explain the mission we have with Childen's Emergency Relief International," Lange explained.

While donation to the children in orphanages was not the goal, several women did decide to do so. Those shoes will either be given to children in Mexico or auctioned off at the organization's annual benefit dinner.

One of the things Lange liked best about the event was its multigenerational nature. She said there were girls and women of all ages, often sitting at the same table.

"It was a beautiful thing to see them all together, having such a good time."

The Hispanic congregation across the street from Bethel sent a delegation of women. They likewise participated in Bethel's boot collection prior to its last trip to Moldova.

The New Caney church does not have an organized women's ministry to pull off events such as this.

"We periodically decide we want to do something, and whoever wants to help jumps in," Davis said.

After the decorating time, the women played Blingo.

"Really it was just Bingo, and we added an "L," Davis said with a chuckle.

A Bethel member who made a trip to Moldova described for the women her experiences and the reason she chose to make that investment of time and money.

The evening was capped by the testimony of a former orphan who told what a difference the donations of others had made in her life while a child.

The combination of missions and fellowship was perfect for Bethel Baptist Church, Davis said.

"Our church is very missions oriented. We get very excited about missions work and to get to work with CERI like this was exciting.

"Here was an event where we could partner with them, have fun and do something together. It was a real blessing and a reason for us to rejoice together," Davis said.

A second Bling event has been planned with a church in Nashville, Tenn., but after that, no more are on the calendar.

To partner with CERI?to host a Bling event, contact Lange at (281) 360-3702.


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