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

Brian Mast walked in the Memorial Day parade holding an American flag, his wife and children watching from the sidelines. He remembered his fellow soldiers, brothers, who had lived, fought and died on the battlefield. Men gone to war for their country. Tears cascaded openly down his face. He felt no shame.

Brian Mast is a young man. But at age 36, he has the experience and wisdom of a man twice his age. As an Army Ranger in Afghanistan, Mast was a demolitions expert, diffusing bombs. One day, one moment was all that was necessary—an improvised explosive device (IED) exploded, leaving Mast without his lower legs. A finger on his left hand also was gone. He later woke up at Walter Reed National Medical Center in Washington D.C., his wife and baby seated nearby his bed. His thoughts: “Will I ever walk again? Will I be able to hold by child?”

He had lived and worked to defend the United States.

When a man or woman loses a limb, an emotional change occurs. Loss has occurred. Loss of limbs. Loss of abilities. Loss of health. Loss of work. Loss of identification with one’s role in life. Mentally, it is a difficult place to come out of, and often includes post traumatic stress, depression, and guilt. Guilt about those who didn’t make it back alive.

Rehab follows: learning to handle pain, maneuvering, becoming accustomed to prosthetic legs, and finally adapting to a new way of life back at home.

Brian Mast is an overcomer. He is a victor, a warrior. Mast comes from a line of military men, his father and uncles were all in the service. His purpose in life has not changed. He states, “Everyone has a purpose in life. My purpose is to defend this country.” Though he’s no longer on a tour of duty in Afghanistan, he sees Washington D.C. as his new battlefield, where change is made and voices are heard.

Coming in to the political realm from the military as a counter-terrorism specialist, Mast brings fresh new ideas for handling terrorism:

First, name the problem for what it is—radical Islam. ISIS is now a worldwide threat.

Second, security professionals need to have appropriate training and experience. “For example, TSA employees at the airports are entry-level workers. They do not have the experience that those in the military have. We should be hiring our veterans who know what to look for as TSA employee and former military canine handlers to sniff out bombs.

Brian Mast has held high-level security clearances. To work at this level he had to be polygraphed. “Why not polygraph those coming into our country?” he asks. “We can ask a person, ‘Have you ever thought about committing an act of terror in the United States?’”

Brian Mast is not the typical citizen running for election. When he speaks, he does not speak as a typical politician, but as one of the people. He is a man who nearly died, and whose service to his country he gave without gain. Yet, he still has a voice, and uses it. Mast speaks up for veterans, their healthcare, and their needs. He speaks up for the rights of Americans to defend themselves. He speaks out about his personal beliefs in God and Christian education.

Brian Mast has a degree in Environmental Science from Harvard. A clean environment is extremely important to him. As a citizen of the Treasure Coast, Mast has toured the waterways with authorities and is speaking out about the water problems and knows what can be done to fix them. He is thinking of the future. He is thinking of his own three children. He wants a clean America, without the burden of heavy taxation for them.

America, let us still do great things. Let us elect men like Brian Mast who say what they mean, and mean what they say. Men who keep their word and leave no one behind.

Brian Mast’s message to others: “If you’ve been broken down as I was, you can still be used for something great.”

HAVE A HERO TIP? Send your Hometown Hero tip to Kelly Jadon: kfjadon@gmail.com

Hometown Heroes