Imagine retiring only to go to work full-time for the Lord. A dream come true for Jeff and Paula Grossmann, who serve year round in the Treasure Coast Area for Samaritan’s Purse program Operation Christmas Child.

Coordinating a grassroots team of 32 called-ministry partners, the Grossmanns overseemedia communications, community outreach, church relations, logistics (semi-trucks, etc..) and prayer ministries connected with Operation Christmas Child.

Encompassing St. Lucie, Martin, Okeechobee and Palm Beach counties, the grassroots effort is growing; there are more than 200 participating churches as God prepares and opens doors to more. Last year this Treasure Coast Area collected 20,000 gift-filled boxes; the goal for 2017 is 25,000.

The Grossmanns, married for more than 50 years, work January through June with a light schedule, but in season, July through November, they each easily put in 40 hours a week. Paula has been involved in Operation Christmas Child for more than ten years; she began by packing a shoebox. Paula was also chosen to travel to Uganda, Africa, to a women’s prison, to see the Gospel presented to inmates and gift boxes received by their children.

Jeff is partially retired from his own business, Grossmann Air Conditioning. He and his wife, Paula, have been Morningside Church members for 14 years. They have received Christian leadership training and are equipped and supported by Samaritan’s Purse staff in Orlando. Together the two make a dynamic team.

Did you know that when you pack a box that nothing ever is removed from it? This is called the “integrity of the box,” Jeff Grossmann states. After you fill a gift box and pray for the receiver, the box is collected at a collection site. From there it is transported with other boxes to central drop offs to be loaded into semi-trucks. The trucks travel to eight major processing centers across the United States. Florida boxes are received into a mammoth building in Atlanta where they are individually checked by 300 called-ministry partners and then placed into cargo containers for sea route shipping overseas. At times, some boxes will be placed aboard a plane if the receiving country has a limited time window.

Overseas, in more than 100 countries, children ages two to 14 receive the gift-filled boxes from trained Operation Christmas Child nationals. Many of the children are in need, living in poverty, orphanages, and refugee camps. These children are also invited to participate in The Greatest Journey discipleship program, where they will have an opportunity to meet Jesus and receive Him. “Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.’” (Matt 19:14) Each day thousands of children come to know the Lord through this program.

This year Samaritan’s Purse is introducing a new type of box which may be used for gift-packing. It is a durable plastic box, decorated with the Operation Christmas Child logo and colors, now made available at Hobby Lobby. This box itself is a gift.

It is a blessing and an honor to pack a box and send it.

Paula Grossmann says this, “Last year, Puerto Rico sent many boxes; this year, it is expected that none will come from the U.S. territory.” God is calling us to make up the shortage and then some. If you filled a shoebox last year, please consider filling two this year.

Other ways to pack boxes include organizing packing parties through a community organization or church.

Just as Apostle Paul sent out handkerchiefs, these shoeboxes represent the work and word of God going forth. Children will be won to the love of Christ.

Paula tells a story of a box packed just with socks. The box was received in India by a little boy who had burned feet. Because of his condition he was required to wear socks, but he had only one pair; his mother was constantly washing them. God knew what this boy needed.

Jeff Grossmann adds, “God is in control.”

The work of God goes where no one can go—into the hearts and minds of children and their parents, changing the world for the glory of God.

National Collection Week November 13-20

Drop Off Locations:

Port St. Lucie: Morningside Church, West
Fort Pierce: Indian River Presbyterian
Stuart: United Methodist on Kanner Highway
Okeechobee: First Baptist of Okeechobee
Loxahatchee: Oasis Church
Jupiter: Harvest Community Church
North Palm Beach: Lighthouse Church
West Palm Beach: Lakeside Presbyterian

When you hit age 60, what will you be doing?

Playing golf? Lounging at the beach?

Or will you be growing and developing your gifts and talents?

Bill Martinez, nationally syndicated radio talk show host, is very involved with the latter. At age 60, he was called back to radio to begin something new, purposeful and fulfilling. Today he is 65 and is heard live in Los Angeles, Chicago, and Dallas every morning. In his current home state of Florida, his voice is heard in West Palm Beach and Titusville. Ever moving forward, Bill Martinez Live is carried in 260 markets on 40 radio stations.

Bill Martinez is no newbie to radio. In 1968 he worked toward a radio license and went live on a local Port Hueneme, California country music station covering the graveyard shift featuring Johnny Cash and other music legends of the time. That was before the market splintered—the “old days” Bill adds, “when you could open up a mike and reach half a million listeners.”

From 1970 to 1972, Bill hosted a radio talk show which he likened to Robin William’s big screen version, “Good Morning Vietnam!” for the Marine Corps where he was based. He also was the television host of a nightly cable news show for the base.

After a vocation in marketing, advertising, and running radio stations, Martinez returned to school, receiving a degree in Biblical theology, expecting to one day work in ministry.

One morning, a friend who hosted a Christian radio show called; he was in the emergency room, just diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Bill was asked to fill in. After 30 years away from the mike, he was called back to his original work.

And he returned, utilizing his gifts, talents, experience, and Biblical knowledge—recognizing the hand of God at in his new vocation.

Bill Martinez is Hispanic, the third son of 10 children. His father, a civil servant was also a World War II veteran. His mother, a homemaker, is an immigrant from Mexico. Together they sent their children to church and Catholic school. “Until I became a senior in high school, the only thing I wanted to be was a priest,” Bill states. Raised conservatively, the former altar boy was schooled by nuns. Even today, the Holy Communion which is so reverenced by the Catholic Church is a part of the fabric of his life. To him, it is about proximity to God.

As a conservative Hispanic, radio marketers heard his broadcasts and that was the beginning of Bill Martinez Live. The show has grown, reaching markets on the air and digitally online.

Before each show, Bill prays, not that his will be done, but that God’s will be done. This is the foundation of Bill Martinez Live. The purpose is to confront the culture of modern society. “When we confront to connect, we connect others with God. What cries out of all of our souls is this: Why am I here? Why now?”

He means to encourage people, helping them connect with God’s purpose in their lives, which leads to fulfillment.

As a former adjunct professor at Cosa Mesa University, Bill taught fulfillment from a Biblical viewpoint:

“Fulfillment,” Bill relates, “leads to ultimate freedom.”

To reach fulfillment, in a Godly way, one must first, enjoy what work he or she is doing.

Second, he has to give it a fair chance and demonstrate competence.

Third, each person has gifts and talents which need to be grown and developed and expressed.

Very few people reach the potential they were placed here to develop. Even the government agrees.

“Several years ago, the U.S. Dept. of Labor reported that less than 10% of people reach these goals and are fulfilled in their life’s work.”

To help listeners understand what they are missing (fulfillment and freedom), Bill discusses politics, world events, culture, and faith from a Biblical worldview through movies and artists, many who are authors. He regularly features interviews with well-known writers and personalities.

“My show is about advancing the greater cause for our country and every American citizen by empowering our listeners with truth and knowledge that will affect the real change we all believe in, in ourselves, our families, neighborhoods, country and world. This may sound grand, but why not? It’s time for America to dream even bigger dreams. Are you in?”

“When we follow God and His way, ‘He will give you the desires of your heart.’”

At age 65 Bill Martinez is reinventing his life with God’s help. And he is excited about it. His life has purpose and meaning. He is fulfilled. He is free.

What are you doing with your life?

Bill Martinez is a resident of Port St. Lucie, Florida. Find Bill online at BillMartinezLive.com

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