Christmas Giving With Real Impact

How you can make someone's Christmas brighter

Matt Lineker • November 6, 2026 • Ministries

2 Minute Read
Most of us want to be generous at Christmas.

The hard part is knowing where.

We give to good causes, but we rarely see who our gift reaches. Meanwhile, someone a few rows over on Sunday might be carrying something heavy this December, and we’d never know.

That’s why we have the Giving Tree.

Here’s how it works. Families in our church share a need anonymously. Each need goes on a tag, and the tags go on a tree. The rest of us take a tag and meet that need.

No one knows who gave or who received. Someone just gets the help they need.

That’s the Giving Tree.


Last Christmas, one of those tags was for a van.

A family with several kids needed repairs they couldn’t afford. Someone from our church family saw the tag and realised he could give more than money. He could give his time and his skills.

He took care of the repairs, no questions asked.

When we called the family to tell them the news, they were moved to tears.

That’s the Giving Tree.


Most tags look more like groceries, a winter coat or a gift for a kid. Each one is somebody’s real need, and each one is a chance to answer it.

Generosity isn’t about the size of the gift. It’s noticing a need and meeting it with what you have.

Maybe you can afford a little, or maybe you can afford a lot. Or maybe this is the year you need the help. That’s okay. That’s what the tree is for, and there’s room for your tag too.

That’s the Giving Tree.

Get involved

The Giving Tree goes up this Sunday, November 8.

Need help this Christmas? Submit a need by Sunday, December 6.
Want to give? Claim a tag and bring your gift back by Sunday, December 13.

Visit the Giving Tree
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November 6, 2026 • 2 Minute Read
Christmas Giving With Real Impact
Most of us want to be generous at Christmas. The hard part is knowing where. We give to good causes, but we rarely see who our gift reaches. Meanwhile, someone a few rows over on Sunday might be carrying something heavy this December, and we’d never know. That’s why we have the Giving Tree. Here’s how it works. Families in our church share a need anonymously. Each need goes on a tag, and the tags go on a tree. The rest of us take a tag and meet that need. No one knows who gave or who received. Someone just gets the help they need. That’s the Giving Tree. Last Christmas, one of those tags was for a van. A family with several kids needed repairs they couldn’t afford. Someone from our church family saw the tag and realised he could give more than money. He could give his time and his skills. He took care of the repairs, no questions asked. When we called the family to tell them the news, they were moved to tears. That’s the Giving Tree. Most tags look more like groceries, a winter coat or a gift for a kid. Each one is somebody’s real need, and each one is a chance to answer it. Generosity isn’t about the size of the gift. It’s noticing a need and meeting it with what you have. Maybe you can afford a little, or maybe you can afford a lot. Or maybe this is the year you need the help. That’s okay. That’s what the tree is for, and there’s room for your tag too. That’s the Giving Tree. Get involved The Giving Tree goes up this Sunday, November 8. Need help this Christmas? Submit a need by Sunday, December 6. Want to give? Claim a tag and bring your gift back by Sunday, December 13.Visit the Giving Tree

Matt Lineker

Media Director

September 30, 2026 • 2 Minute Read
Your lunch, their lives.
Well, Oceanside, you did it again. Last Sunday, after both services, we fired up the BBQ in the parking lot at Nanaimo Christian School. The burgers had no price, and you gave what you could. Did we reach our goal? Yes. Far exceeded. We raised $28,991 That's enough to cover all of it: the school supplies and university fees for the children at Grace Orphanage and Hopes Uganda. It's a big number, but it's made of burgers, e-transfers, and people who wanted a kid they'll never meet to have a good year at school. Thank you. We want to tell you about one of those kids. Riziki was found on the street at age 9. Today she's a qualified seamstress with a small business of her own, and she'll be making this year's school uniforms. Two other girls from Grace are learning the trade alongside her. That's what a good education can do, and it's why we do this. Oceanside has been supporting Grace Orphanage for many years. It's one of those relationships that doesn't make a lot of noise, but it's part of who we are. Following Jesus has always looked like noticing the kids nobody else is looking out for, and doing something about it. That's exactly what you did on Sunday. A few more thank-yous. To the Elders, for giving us the opportunity. To the team who set up, grilled, served, and cleaned up. To Johann Van Rensburg and everyone at iWOF, who've spent twelve years making sure this money reaches the kids. And to every one of you who came out, gave, or told a friend. We're so thankful to God for His faithfulness, and for a church that shows up like this. Missed Sunday? No worries, there's still time to be part of it. Watch Johann's update below, and if you'd like to give, you can donate to the Back to School 2026 campaign online through CanadaHelps and get an instant tax receipt.Donate Now

Matt Lineker

Media Director

September 23, 2026 • 3 Minute Read
Congo Fundraiser This Sunday
This Sunday, lunch is on the grill, and every burger helps a kid at Grace Orphanage start the school year well. After both services (8:30 and 10:30), we're firing up the BBQ in the parking lot at Nanaimo Christian School. The burgers have no price. You give what you'd like, and every dollar goes directly to iWOF's Back to School 2026 campaign for Grace Orphanage. Why Grace Orphanage Oceanside has supported the kids at Grace Orphanage for many years. It's one of those relationships that doesn't make a lot of noise, but it's been part of who we are for a long time. Grace Orphanage is a home for orphaned children in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, just outside the city of Uvira. Since 2008, they've given kids who lost their families a safe place to live, with food, clothing, health care and school. Today, 48 children call it home. They welcome kids from every tribe and every background, and each of them grows up knowing they're loved and that God has a purpose for their life. The team there believes education is the best way out of poverty, and they've built their home around that. The kids attend a good school, and a teacher comes in five afternoons a week to help the ones who need extra support. With help from the International Widows & Orphans Fund (iWOF), a registered Canadian charity, they've built houses for the children, a Reading Centre, and a garden that grows their own food. This year's Back to School campaign covers backpacks with supplies, uniforms, after-school tutoring, and the cost of the programs. It reaches every student at Grace Orphanage and 50 sponsored kids from the surrounding community. It also helps six students who've made it to university keep going. They're young people preparing to lead in their own community. James writes that the kind of faith God accepts looks after orphans and widows in their distress (James 1:27). Following Jesus has always looked like this: noticing the kids nobody else is looking out for, and doing something about it. Ways to give Grab a burger on Sunday. It's by donation, and you can pay with cash, tap, or the QR code at the table. Every dollar goes straight to iWOF. It's lunch for you and a school year for someone else. Give online. You can donate directly to the campaign through CanadaHelps. You'll get an instant tax receipt, and it works whether or not you can make it on Sunday. Donations made via card or online are eligible for tax receipts.Give to Back to School 2026 Share it. Send the link to friends and family. The campaign is counting on people telling people. See you in the parking lot.

Matt Lineker

Media Director

September 10, 2026 • 1 Minute Read
Crossroads Dessert Auction
On Saturday, September 26, from 7:00–9:00 PM at First Baptist Church Nanaimo (1650 Waddington Rd), our friends at Crossroads Pregnancy Centre are hosting their annual Desserts + Delights evening, and we'd love for our church family to be part of it. This is a night built around celebrating what a community can do when it wraps around local moms and babies with love and care — and Crossroads has had an extraordinary year doing exactly that. Here's what's in store: 🎁 Silent Auction Baskets — full of treasures and gift certificates donated by local businesses. 🧁 Hundreds of Desserts — bake sale tables and a live auction featuring creations from local bakers. 🌟 Celebrating Impact — a chance to reflect together on a year of supporting some of our community's most vulnerable families. Tickets are completely free, but they're going fast.Claim Your Tickets

Matt Lineker

Media Director