The July birthday parties in Rutherford County and Memphis were amazing. Every month brings with it new experiences and new stories to tell of how Candle Wishes is making a difference in the lives of families in need.

One of the single moms in the program, who is expecting another child in a few months, brought her children to the party in Rutherford County. I spent a long time talking to her and I noticed she was beat up pretty bad. I asked her what happened and learned her dad had beat her up and pushed her off their front porch. She had fallen on her stomach and had been to the hospital to monitor the health of the baby. She talked to me about how much she appreciates Candle Wishes helping with her girls’ birthday gifts and their needs. She is struggling to get by, and it would be easy to become cynical about a world that doesn’t care. But, through her involvement with Candle Wishes, she is encouraged that her community is different.

Thank you to 2Cute! of Murfreesboro, Christ Church of Memphis, and the many donors and volunteers who made this month of ministry possible! Churches, businesses, and individuals enable Candle Wishes to live out the gospel by being the hands and feet of Jesus’ compassion for the poor. What an amazing gift, thank you again!

Candle Wishes Memphis Family

Rutherford County Birthday Girl- Danielle

Rutherford County Party

Post from Melissa Shaeffer, Candle Wishes Memphis Director:

The April party was the best yet! We had five birthday kids and about 30 people at the party. The June party is expected to be a real blast for the kids! We have 14 birthday kids and probably about 80 people coming.  We are going to rent a moon bounce and let the kids play in that for entertainment. In April, I had no idea how I was going to pay for the party. It was Wednesday before the party, and I went to church and the financial man said I have  $100 check for you that someone donated on Sunday. I started tearing up just to know God is so good! I am working on getting the remaining kids for the rest of this year sponsored. I presented to my church this past Sunday, and I had four people who were interested, Praise God! Just pray for blessings upon the families and donors as God continues to work through Candle Wishes to touch the children of Memphis.

Melissa Shaeffer serves as the Candle Wishes Director for the Memphis, TN chapter. This is the first year for Candle Wishes Memphis, and they have had two successful birthday parties! Here are some pictures..

Melissa Shaeffer, Candle Wishes Memphis Director

Thank you to HobNobMurfreesboro, Ryan Smith, John Laccheri, and Leadership Rutherford for helping us produce this video!

Stones River-Oaklands Kiwanis Club has partnered with the Nashville Predators to raise money for Candle Wishes. Tickets, which are discounted, purchased HERE for the Sunday March 7th game at 2:00 will benefit Candle Wishes, with the Predators donating $10 of each ticket price.

There will also be a silent auction before and during the game at the arena and all proceeds will go to Candle Wishes. Below are just a few of the items that will be up for auction with many more to come.

Please buy your tickets now for the March 7th hockey game HERE and give children in need unforgettable birthdays!

Silent Auction Items

Autographed Predators Gear!

Jay Cutler, Chicago Bears quarterback, autographed football

Bobby Johnson, Vanderbilt Coach, autographed football

Josh Hamilton, MLB Texas Rangers all star outfielder, autographed book Beyond Belief and baseball

Autographed book Rebel With a Cause, by Franklin Graham

Gift Basket from 2Cute

Vera Bradley bag and monogramming gift certificate from 2Cute

Frist Museum Admission Tickets

Dance Murfreesboro lessons

Demos’ gift certificate

P.F. Chang’s certificates

Amerigo gift certificate

Venetian Nail Spa of Green Hills Gift Certificates

Book baskets

More to come!

Thank you to MTSU Circle K, LaVergne Key Club, and St. Edward Builders Club for sponsoring the Candle Wishes November birthday party at Belle Aire Baptist Church! All of the kids had so much fun. Candle Wishes appreciates the support of donors who provided for the birthday wishes and needs of all 67 birthday children! If you would like to get involved by sponsoring a child, please e-mail JennyWilliams@candlewishes.org. We need 86 donors to provide gifts for children with birthdays in December and January. Candle Wishes wants to celebrate the lives of these children and ensure their special days aren’t forgotten during the holidays. Thank you again to everyone!

River Oaks Community Church (ROCC) sponsored the October 2009 birthday party for over 50 birthday children and their families. After a week of rain, we were blessed with sunshine on Sunday Sept. 27th for the party at Old Fort Park in Murfreesboro, TN. ROCC sponsored the party as part of The Church Has Left the Building project. On Sunday, the church didn’t have service but went out into the community to serve and BE the church! Those that volunteered to host the Candle Wishes party did an amazing job. The children had so much fun playing games and getting a sugar high from candy and cake. The birthday kids each had their own cupcake and all blowed out their candles making a birthday wish at the same time.

There was one family at the party that we have been praying for- a single mom who lost her job and has been living at a local motel. I was so excited to see her and hear that her new job is going well, and she was able to move her and the kids out of the motel and into a trailer. 

These families are struggling day to day. It is incredible to be a part of Candle Wishes- providing for the needs of the children,  fulfilling their birthday wishes, and creating memorable birthday experiences. Thank you everyone for your support of the ministry!

-Jenny Williams, Founder and Executive Director

On September 26^th and 27^th the Memphis Chapter will be sharing it’s vision with a group of friends, family and business owners.  These guests will have the opportunity to hear about this ministry and get involved in helping children across the city celebrate their birthdays! The challenge for the Memphis Chapter during the months of September-December is to raise enough money and get enough sponsors for 240 memphis kids to be blessed with birthday presents and parties.

What an amazing opportunity it is to be working along side Candle Wishes and Jenny.  As the Memphis Chapter gets it start this month I am excited to share that God has blessed the journey of development for this ministry.

In Memphis, we are looking forward to our first birthday party on January 30,2010.

Melissa Shaeffer

Candle Wishes, Memphis Chapter Director

candlewishesmemphis@gmail.com

Over 50 families, 175 people, gathered to celebrate the lives of Candle Wishes children with September birthdays. The party was held at Belle Aire Baptist Church Saturday August 29th.

The kids were SO EXCITED about their birthday gifts. Leondre asked me every 10 minutes how much longer until gifts would be handed out, begging me to reveal the contents of his bag.

Thanks to all the volunteers who helped make the party a success: Linda, Jarred, Lisa, Reta, Nathan, Becky, Justin, Jason, Darla and Claude!

TennderCARE, a program to encourage annual well check-ups among  children on TennCare came and gave the children stickers and other goodies as well as providing information to parents on child health care.

Jarred, a Candle Wishes volunteer and student at MTSU, brought ingredients to make silly putty and other crafts. Here he is in the middle of the kid mob.

I had the opportunity to sit down with one of the mothers, Madeline, to talk about her experience participating in Candle Wishes for the past 3 years. She talked about how much Candle Wishes has helped her family. As a single mom with no family in the area, she says it is hard to make it financially. Madeline, who spent some time last year living in a motel room, has worked so hard to give her children a good life and now rents a house in the Murfreesboro area. When her daughter opened her birthday gift bag, Madeline was relieved to see boots and socks- she said she was just thinking the morning before the party about the children needing boots and socks for the winter.

It is such a pleasure to provide for the needs of these children and to give them a happy and positive birthday experience in the midst of their difficult life circumstances.  I pray that we love the poor in our communities the way Christ loves us and that His compassion drives us to make a difference.

Check out these pictures from the party- Jenny Williams, Founder and Executive Director

Jenny and Mashayla- my best buddy at the party

Twins Mark and Matthew

The August birthday party was held July 25th at Belle Aire Baptist Church and sponsored by the ladies group from New Hope Baptist Church called the Ladybugs. Local Kiwanis Clubs were planning to host a kids camp in LaVergne, TN the following week and invited all of the children at the party to attend the camp for free! Kiwanis and the camp counselors brought outside games to play with the kids at the party.

There is one family that I spent much of the time talking to that needs your prayers. Jennifer is a single mom of two girls who recently lost her job for economic reasons. She soon found another job in Murfreesboro, but a few days before she was scheduled to start, she was evicted from her condo in LaVergne. Her and the kids are now living in a motel. Please pray that God would provide for their needs during this difficult time. Jennifer was optimistic since she does have a job, but is worried about the girls, as they are having to change schools. Pray for these sweet girls, that God would protect them and draw them close to Him.

Each birthday child received a New Testament Bible with their gift bag. God has reminded me of the power of His word and that people come to know Him through the scriptures. Pray for everyone volunteering for Candle Wishes as we continue to build relationships with these families, and that Christ’s presence in our lives would be evident because of our love for people.

Thank you for your support of the Candle Wishes ministry! It is such a joy to serve along side our dedicated volunteers and sponsors as we reach out to local families in need. -Jenny Williams, Candle Wishes, Founder and Executive Director

Here are some pictures from the party: