Great Christmas Gifts

This year, I asked our SBTC staff to tell about a memorable Christmas gift they’ve given or received. Here’s what they said. God give you joy as you celebrate Christmas this year. GL 

Laura Adkison, pastor/church relations—My Grandma Kester grew up an orphan and as each one of her older seven brothers got married she moved in with the young couple. Along the way she learned to sew and she became a very good seamstress. My favorite gift as a child was from her. Each Christmas I would get a hatbox filled with handmade Barbie doll clothes. I had the best-dressed Barbie on the block with all types of fancy ball gowns and such. I regret not keeping a box of the clothes.

Denae Albin, church ministries—The first Christmas after I started my first full-time job, my parents’ job situations weren’t great, and my dad’s work printer had died. He couldn’t really afford a new one, so I bought him a four-in-one printer so he could even fax things to his office. It was humbling to be able to provide this simple thing my parents needed after they’d provided most of my wants and needs for 25 years.

Barry Calhoun, mobilization—The best gift I have ever given was an engagement ring to my wife, Seneca, in December 1981, when I asked her to marry me. I remember the smile on her face.

Keith Collier, communications—On the first Christmas of dating my future wife, I was told her father would love the five-dollar “Pub Songs From Ireland” CD off the Target discount rack because he liked the Irish jig music in the movie “Titanic.” He laughed hysterically when he opened it and plays it loudly every Christmas to make fun of my decision. Not the best gift ever, but it is a gift that keeps on giving.

Sharayah Colter, communications—One year after my younger brother took his first post-college career job, I designed him a custom stamp he could use in signing cards and letters. It coordinated with his new industry and gave him a “personal brand” of sorts. It seemed to be really special to him since it was personalized and tailored just for him in his new endeavor. He still sends me text message pictures of how he is using the stamp, and it thrills my heart to have given him something special that he can still use and that went beyond the typical Home Depot gift card or nine-way knife-screwdriver combo.

Easter Cooley, operations—A canoe pocketknife to replace the peanut pocketknife my husband lost that was his father’s. Yes, he still carries it. 

Ted Elmore, pastor/church relations—Around 1984, I was an itinerant evangelist and money was tight. Cheryl and I had determined how much each of our four kids could spend on gifts for one another. I was shopping with my son and, being 8 years old, he felt he was man enough to carry his cash. While shopping, he lost his Christmas cash somewhere from car to car. He was in tears. We talked as a family, and our daughter suggested that they share their money with her brother. They did. I will never forget that Christmas. To an 8 year-old it was huge; therefore it was huge to us. My best gift given and received was a gift of sharing that helped shape our hearts as a family.

Gayla Harris, missions—Christmas 2011 our daughter got her boys for the first time as foster children. They had not ever had much of anything and never even had celebrations for their birthdays. On Christmas that year we got them so nice new Nike socks; you would have thought we had given them a million dollars. They literally fell on the floor hugging them. It was quite humbling. 

Heath Peloquin, pastor/church relations—I received a used baseball glove from my granddad on my 10th birthday. I did not think it was a good gift at the time, but years later after his death it became a valuable treasure. One day I pulled out of my closet to show my son when I realized that in the glove pocket it was signed by Reggie Jackson. I smiled and thought that when I first received this gift I was not grateful, but many years later I realize it is indeed a gift of love.

Shane Pruitt, missions—The best Christmas gift I ever gave was the first Christmas that Kasi and I were married. I gave her some lame country CD of a band that she’d never heard of. Her face let me know that I had made a HUGE rookie mistake as a husband. The reason it was the best is because afterwards the lame gift caused me to repent, and now my gift-giving skills have gone through a healthy sanctification process.

Emily Smith, church ministries—A grandmother brought her two grandchildren to a service at our church and the children asked if they could keep attending because they loved it so much. She not only cared for her grandkids but also her step-grandkids. She didn’t have much but never asked for anything. It was difficult for me to really fuss over my frivolous ‘Christmas list’ when this family was just trying to make it from day to day. Our small group, staff and a local mission of our church adopted this family during the holiday season and provided gifts and food for the children and for the grandmother. It was true picture of what Christmas is all about. I had the pleasure to see the grandmother and one of her grandchildren make a profession of faith—truly the greatest gift.

Gayla Sullivan, communications—There was a family of five in our church who had recently undergone many challenges, physically and financially. Our family of five snuck up quietly to their porch and began singing “Silent Night.” I’ll never forget their faces as they opened the door and began singing along with us, tears streaming down the parents’ faces. Blessing their family with groceries and gifts was much better than anything I could have received.

Mitch Tidwell, strategic initiatives—My parents’ dog become a pro at opening the trash can with his nose and enjoying its contents, which led to some weird digestive problems for him. So, in 2012 I bought my mom a high quality locking trash can. Mom was thrilled!

Lauren Turner, evangelism—I had some friends move from Colorado Springs to Houston for a church position right before Christmas, and the house they planned to move into ended up having black mold. Their son has weak lungs, and that house would have been a terror for him with his breathing. They had to get out of that house, but they had a contract that would cost as much to break as the down-payment. I paid to break the contract on their house, so they could rent another house. It was a blessing to gift them that way!

Judy Van Hooser, church ministries—I guess the best gift I ever gave was once I did a cross stitch picture for my mom of the house she grew up in and one my grandmother still had when I was growing up. It took about six months to complete and has 132 colors in it.