USA (MNN) — A radio station in Texas is
encouraging listeners to be "doers" and not just "hearers" only. KVTT 91.7FM
station manager Doug Price says they're partnering this Saturday with Buckner
International's Shoes for Orphan Souls for a "Sole-d Out" celebration.
Price explains, "We learned
that the opportunity to be able to collect shoes from our listeners was
available. It had not been done in the
Dallas/Fort Worth area in the last five years, so we wanted to get out there
and be able to let our listeners participate in an international missions
project. Thus far, we've been just thrilled with the result." More than 2,000 people are expected to attend,
and many more have already indicated interest in bringing shoes.
Sole-d Out is an unprecedented event for
Buckner, because it is the first Shoes for Orphan Souls event in its originating city of Dallas, TX.
Saturday's festival runs from noon to 5
pm and provides a family environment with food, bounce houses for the kids, and
Christian artists such as Salvador, Susan Gray, Darrell Evans and Christian
Ebner.
The Buckner Center for Humanitarian Aid will be open for tours to offer
participants a view of where all donated shoes and socks are sorted and
stored before being shipped off to needy children in more than 55 countries. The Center is a 45,000-square-foot warehouse near the border
of Dallas and Mesquite.
The building holds about 150,000 pairs of shoes at any one time, and along
with racks and loading docks, it includes a spacious, air-conditioned area for
the 4,000 volunteers a year who come to sort and pack shoes, socks and other
items.
Price says the shoe drive and
distribution trips go a long ways toward making faith in Christ real. "The Christian church has put a lot of
emphasis on evangelism and that moment in time when we make the decision for
Christ. I think the focus needs to be on
discipleship. This is an opportunity for people to get out and actually
show who they are in Christ."
Click here if your church or community
organization wants to help sponsor a shoe drive.
