JOY Box 2012 Wrap-up

All of the 153 JOY Boxes collected for nursing home residents have now been delivered.  The total number of boxes was slightly higher this year, so five nursing homes in Baker and Columbia Counties received boxes of JOY.

I would like to thank everyone that took the time and effort to prepare a shoebox gift and those that sent financial contributions for the James Croft Evangelistic Association to prepare the boxes.  We had 153 smiling faces as a result of your efforts!

It's not too early to begin praying and preparing for next years' box collection.  You can find all of the program info and the latest JOY Box news by visiting the following links.

• JOY Box website
• Facebook page
• Blog posts
• Donate for JOY Boxes

2012 JOY Box Deadline is Thursday

The James Croft Evangelistic Association JOYBox Ministry for 2012 is drawing to a close.  The deadline for boxes and donations is this Thursday, January 12th.

We are continuing to collect plastic shoeboxes filled with small gift items for residents in Baker & Columbia Counties nursing homes.  The boxes may contain a variety of items including shampoo, body wash, puzzle book, magnifying glass, and socks.  We also place a copy of God’s Word in each box.  Last year churches of various denominations, individuals, businesses, school clubs and organizations shared “JOY” by preparing shoeboxes.

A section of the JCEA website offers full details of the ministry including a video explaining how you can participate.  If you are unable to prepare a box, but would like to contribute financially toward this ministry our website provides details for that too.

Drop-off locations for JOY Boxes are:

·        Davis Golf Carts, 126 South 5^th Street in Macclenny, FL.

·        BeulahBaptist Association, 189 NW Cali Drive in Lake City, FL.

Deadline for boxes is Thursday, January 12, 2012.

Your prayers & consideration of this ministry are greatly appreciated!

Cool JOY Box Suggestion

This is a great JOY Box gift idea for ladies boxes. Remember the deadline for boxes is Thursday, January 12th.  For more information visit the JOY Box website.

Baker County JOY Box Drop-off

This message is for our JOY Box participants in Baker County, Florida.  If you have prepared JOY Boxes and need to deliver them this week, call us at (386) 867-3199. Our Macclenny drop-off location, Davis Golf Cart & Small Engine Repair, will be closed this week due to a death in their family.  Please remember the Ulys Davis Family in your prayers.

A section of the JCEA website offers full details of the ministry including a video explaining how you can participate.  If you are unable to prepare a box, but would like to contribute financially toward this ministry our website provides details for that too.

Drop-off locations for JOY Boxes are:

·        Davis Golf Carts, 126 South 5^th Street in Macclenny, FL.

·        Beulah Baptist Association, 189 NW Cali Drive in Lake City, FL.

Deadline for boxes is Thursday, January 12, 2012.

Your prayers & consideration of this ministry are greatly appreciated!

NOTE: The video below provides additional info about the JOY Box ministry.

Sharing JOY on WJTK

By Ken Allen, WJTK 96.5 FM, The Jet

• Tue, Dec 20, 2011- The James Croft Evangelistic Association has kicked-off its JOY Box Ministry for 2012.  JCEA is again collecting plastic shoe boxes filled with small gift items for residents in Baker & Columbia Counties nursing homes.  The boxes may contain a variety of items including shampoo, body wash, puzzle book, magnifying glass, and socks.  A copy of God’s Word is also placed in each box.  Last year churches of various denominations, individuals, businesses, school clubs and organizations shared “JOY” by preparing shoe boxes.  James Croft was a guest on 96.5 the Jet, WJTK's North Florida Today show to talk about the Joy Box Ministry.  The interview is below.

JOY Box Contents

This is an example of the items suitable for including in JOY Boxes for nursing home residents.  You will find all of the details on this program on the JCEA website.

Shoebox size containers (preferably plastic boxes) should be filled with the following types of items:

Socks	Hand/body lotions	Small portable radios
Toothbrush, toothpaste, mouthwash	Body wash (no bar soaps), shampoo	Combs & brushes
Baseball caps	Handkerchiefs & scarves	Small lap blankets
Hair spray for women, hair tonic for men (Vitalis, etc.)	Large print puzzle books (word search, crossword, etc.)	Large print books & magazines
Stationary, writing pads, writing pens	Cologne, aftershave, perfume, body powder	Bedroom slippers for men & women
Music CD’s (please choose music wisely)		Magnifying glass
	Please do not include: Candy, baked goods, food or sharp objects

This list is not all-inclusive. Other items may be allowed, but please keep in mind each resident has a limited amount of storage space in their room.

What is a JOY Box?

A promo video for the JOY Box ministry coordinated by James Croft Evangelistic Association.

Time for JOY!!

It’s time to kick-off the James Croft Evangelistic Association JOYBox Ministry for 2012!!

We are again collecting plastic shoeboxes filled with small gift items for residents in Baker & Columbia Counties nursing homes.  The boxes may contain a variety of items including shampoo, body wash, puzzle book, magnifying glass, and socks.  We also place a copy of God’s Word in each box.  Last year churches of various denominations, individuals, businesses, school clubs and organizations shared “JOY” by preparing shoeboxes.

A section of the JCEA website offers full details of the ministry including a video explaining how you can participate.  If you are unable to prepare a box, but would like to contribute financially toward this ministry our website provides details for that too.

Drop-off locations for JOY Boxes are:

·        Davis Golf Carts, 126 South 5^th Street in Macclenny, FL.

·        BeulahBaptist Association, 189 NW Cali Drive in Lake City, FL.

Deadline for boxes is Thursday, January 12, 2012.

Your prayers & consideration of this ministry are greatly appreciated!

Macclenny Christmas Festival

James Croft Evangelistic Association will have an exhibit about the ministry during the annual Macclenny Christmas Festival tomorrow.  Our display will feature information about the various JCEA ministries with an emphasis on encouraging volunteers to participate in the JOY Box program for area nursing homes.  The all-day event concludes with fireworks and a lighted Christmas parade in downtown Macclenny, Florida.  The event is sponsored by the City of Macclenny Fire Department.

Open Dates and JOY Boxes

Unfortunately, this is the time of year when my preaching schedule slows to a crawl.  I currently have several open dates on my preaching calendar through the end of this year and the first three weeks of 2012.  A list of these dates are available on my ministry calendar viewable at this link.  I am always ready to serve our Lord's Church through preaching, teaching, and special programs for all ages.  Please let me know if I may serve your church or group.

I am currently preparing updated information about our annual JOY Box ministry for nursing home residents in Baker and Columbia Counties.  I'm praying we will be able to provide each nursing home resident with a box of JOY in January.

You are invited to participate by filling a plastic shoebox with small gift items including shampoo, body wash, puzzle book, magnifying glass, socks, etc.  James Croft Evangelistic Association will place a Gospel tract in each box to share the JOY of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  All YOU have to do is prepare and designate boxes for male or female residents.  Unisex boxes are also acceptable.  Print and place a JOY Box Submission Form in each box.  If possible, please include a $2.00 donation for each box to assist with program expenses.  In the past we have received boxes and donations from churches of various denominations, individuals, businesses, school clubs and organizations.

The JCEA website offers full details of the ministry including suggested box contents, drop-off locations, box submission form and a video explaining how you can participate.

I hope you join us in sharing a little JOY!!

Final JOY Box Delivered

Photo by Jon M. Fletcher

All of the 105 JOY Boxes collected for nursing home residents have now been delivered.  The total number of boxes was much less than last year, so the number of nursing homes reached was reduced.  W. Frank Wells Nursing Home and Macclenny Nursing and Rehab in Macclenny; and Baya Pointe Nursing Home in Lake City were this year's recipients.

I would like to thank everyone that took the time and effort to prepare a shoebox gift and those that sent financial contributions for the James Croft Evangelistic Association to prepare the boxes.  We had 105 smiling faces as a result of your efforts!

It's not too early to begin praying and preparing for next years' box collection.  You can find all of the program info and the latest JOY Box news by visiting the following links.

• JOY Box website
• Facebook page
• Blog posts
• Photo galleries
• Donate for JOY Boxes

JOY Shared At Wells Nursing Home

The residents of W. Frank Wells Nursing Home in Macclenny, Florida were treated to a JOY Box Distribution Party on Sunday, January 9th.  Volunteers from the James Croft Evangelistic Association presented a hymn sing-a-long and some special music followed by a message on the true "joy" of Christmas.  Shoebox gifts donated to the ministry were shared with each of the 40 residents as volunteers spent time with each one, sharing, listening and praying.

The boxes contained a variety of gifts including shampoo, body wash, lotions, puzzle books, small gifts, lap blankets and more.  Each time a box was shared the volunteers received a wonderful smile in return.  One of the teenage volunteers said she heard one comment several times, "you mean I get the whole box?"  She would respond, "yes, it's all yours."

The remaining JOY Boxes will be distributed to nursing homes in Macclenny and Lake City over the next two weeks.  Unfortunately, the number of boxes received this year is much lower than last year, but volunteers have made every effort to stretch the resources to the max.

Additional photos from the event are available in this online photo gallery.  Due to HIPAA regulations we are unable to show the faces of the residents, but trust us, those photos were filled with smiles!

Wells Nursing Home Sunday

The James Croft Evangelistic Association will hold a Distribution Party at JOY BoxW Frank Wells Nursing Home on Sunday, January 9, 2011 at 2pm.  The party will include music, fellowship, a message from God's Word, and the distribution of JOY Boxes to residents.  W Frank Wells Nursing Home is located at 210 N 2nd Street in Macclenny, Florida.  Please be in prayer for the party and the residents.

LAST CALL: JOY Box Donations

Alexx St. John prepares shoebox gifts.

Our collection time for JOY Boxes and donations for this year's event will be concluding tomorrow, Tuesday, January 4, 2011.  However, there is still time to participate; in fact, if you are preparing boxes and need a couple of extra days, give us a call (386.867.3199) and we'll accommodate you.  Financial donations are still welcome by following the appropriate links below.  We'll prepare as many boxes as possible from your donation.

As of this writing we have received 100 JOY Boxes for nursing home residents in Macclenny and Lake City, Florida.  This number is down considerably from last year's 314, but I know the Lord will still bless each recipient and each donor.  Distribution of JOY Boxes will begin this weekend.

For more information about the JOY Box ministry visit these links:

• JOY Box Ministry
• What If It Were You?
• JOY Box on Facebook
• Box Contents
• Drop-off Locations
• JOY Box Photos

 JOY Box Donation

Click this button to make a donation to the JCEA Christmas JOY Box Ministry.  Donations will be used to cover expenses in providing shoe box gifts to nursing home residents. 

 To make a contribution by check or money order follow this link.

 The James Croft Evangelistic Association is registered with the IRS as a 501(C)(3) corporation and all donations to the JCEA are tax deductible.

What If It Were You?

On Christmas Eve evening I went to visit my great-aunt, a resident in a nursing home.  Earlier I had set up a small Christmas tree on her night-stand and its' fiber optic lights gave a warm glow to that corner of her room.  If you stared at the tree long enough you could almost forget your were in a nursing home, but that wouldn't be the reality.  The reality is that my 99 year-old aunt has lived in this home for several years and will continue to do so until the Lord calls her to a "new" home.  She is not alone in this reality.  All around us are these types of "homes" for those that are unable to continue living in the their own home.

Nursing homes can be a lonely place for those that have had to leave home, family and familiar surroundings for need of around-the-clock care.  Christmas can be especially lonesome for residents as families rush to meet responsibilities involving their jobs, church functions, and the commercialism that spawns non-stop, last minute shopping.  I visited several other residents during the evening, just talking, listening, laughing and reading from Luke 2 to attentive ears.  Yes, nursing home residents could certainly use some “joy”.

JOY Boxes bring smiles.

Enter you and the James Croft Evangelistic Association JOY Box Ministry.

You might be surprised at the amount of joy one plastic shoebox filled with small gift items will bring to a nursing home resident.  With the assistance of churches of various denominations, individuals, businesses, school clubs and organizations over 300 of these boxes were distributed in five nursing homes for residents this past year.  That's over 300 faces sporting smiles of appreciation for a small gift they can call their own.

The boxes contained a variety of items including shampoo, body wash, puzzle book, magnifying glass, socks, and a copy of God’s Word.  Most of these types of items we take for granted, but for these residents it provided a sense of ownership and independence.

Wouldn't you like to have a part in sharing this type of "joy"?  Participation is so easy.  The JOY Box section of our website provides all of the details.  If you are unable to prepare a box, but would like to contribute financially toward providing one or more boxes, you can follow the link below.  We can prepare a nice box with a variety of items for approximately $15.  We need to receive all of the boxes by the middle of next week for delivery later in the month.

Examples of JOY Box items.

Thank you so much for your consideration of this ministry.  Your prayerful and financial support will be greatly appreciated.

By the way, please remember to pray for nursing home residents, better yet... why not stop by a nursing home in your area and just walk the halls making random visits? You'll be blessed beyond measure by the smiles & appreciation!

JOY Box Donation
Click this button to make a donation to the JCEA Christmas JOY Box Ministry.  Donations will be used to cover expenses in providing shoe box gifts to nursing home residents. 

 To make a contribution by check or money order follow this link.

 The James Croft Evangelistic Association is registered with the IRS as a 501(C)(3) corporation and all donations to the JCEA are tax deductible.

Photos by Jon M. Fletcher

WJTK Radio Interview

I was interviewed on radio station WJTK 96.5 FM (The Jet) in Lake City, Florida on Monday, December 20, 2010.  The JCEA JOY Box Ministry was the subject of the interview on the North Florida Now morning program.  You can listen to the interview in the video below.

Radio Interview On Monday

I will be interviewed on WJTK 96.5 FM (The Jet) in Lake City, Florida on Monday, December 20, 2010.  The JCEA JOY Box Ministry will be the subject of the interview scheduled to last 5-10 minutes.  The complete interview will be available later in the day on the North Florida Now website.

JOY Box Flashback

Residents of Frank Wells Nursing Home in Macclenny, Florida receive JOY Boxes during an after-Christmas party in 2007.

For more information about this ministry for nursing home residents visit the James Croft Evangelistic Association website or our Facebook JOY Box page.

JOY Box Web Info Updated

The JOY Box section of the JCEA ministry website has been updated with new and easier to find info.  Here's a few of the highlights:

• A better introduction to the ministry
• Promo video is now easier to find (it's also included below)
• Box contents list has been updated (please note no candy of any kind)
• Updated "News" page combines our blog and Facebook entries, check it often for updates
• Drop-off locations and dates are updated
• New photos added for 2009 and more still to come
• New yearly results page

 Please let us know if you, your church, organization, business, etc. will be participating, so we can mention you on our news page.  Do not hesitate to call 386.867.3199 or sent an e-mail if you have any questions.

JOY Box on Facebook

The JCEA JOY Box ministry is now on Facebook, so come join us.  You'll receive the latest updates on this special shoebox ministry for nursing home residents. 



For even more JOY Box info visit our ministry website.