Operation Dad 2008 A “Mustard Seed” Idea Blessed By God

Operation Dad 2008 all started with Shannon Brown, a soldiers wife and new member at Madison, and a conversation about doing something special for Father’s Day for a few of the men in her husbands unit. That seed idea blossomed into a project that only God could bring to success…and He did.

Operation Dad 2008 was not a statement for or against the war, it was a message to the troops that you are loved by those of us who are so far away.

Tom Haddon, our Involement Minister, along with Shannon spearheaded this effort that raised over 100,000.00 in supplies and cash. People from all over Middle Tennessee set up collections boxes. Over 8000 personal notes were written to the troops, many of them by children. 6000 small denim back packs were filled with everything from eye drops, chap stick to playing cards (David Hardin, one of our members drove all the way to Tunica to pick up 6000 decks of cards). Also in each back pack was one special Beenie baby toy to be given away with the back pack to a child as a gift of love.

We thank God for all of those who gave their time, money and material gifts. We trust God will take these seeds of love and plant them in open hearts for a harvest one day of His design.

Below is a picture of our Gym during Operation Dad 2008. Click on the picture to be taken to more pictures.

 

Picures courtesy of Todd Hibbs, Madison’s Director of Media Operations.

Operation Dad 2008 A Great Success!!!

Tommorrow Is Packing Day

1500 boxes each containing 4 small back packs filled with goodies will be packed and made ready to ship on Friday. Each of the 6000 back packs will contain a small stuffed animal to be giving to a child. Over 31,000 dollars has been given to pay for the shipping and even the Post Office is finally on board. They will come to our building to do the paper work and then provide a truck to take all the boxes to the shipping point. Praise our Father who provides! Channel 5 did an on location shoot for their 6:00pm broad cast. Here is the video.

Final Push For Operation Dad 2008

WKRN Channel 2 in Nashville joined other media outlets in promoting Operation Dad 2008. After listen to the video below please read a personal message from Tom Haddon, our Involvment Minister (featured in the video) whose message is listed below.

5/17/08 Good morning,

We have one week to go – This is sorting and packing week. We have enough money to ship just over 4000 packages! That’s 2/3 of the way there.

Need:
Individuals: We need shipping on 2,000 more packages. Can you go to your friends and neighbors today asking them to contribute $ 5.00 to ship one box. The $ 5.00 covers the cost of the bag (small backpak with nothing in it) and the cost to ship it. For every $ 5.00 that you raise, that’s one more bag going to Afghanistan. Individual donations, for tax purposes, are treated like a donation to any qualified ‘church’.

Business:
If you own a business or know someone who does, can you ask for a corportate donation? Remember – every $ 100.00 sends 20 packages. Remind them that we will be sending out tax receipts to them the first part of June. Corporate donations are tax deductible.

Together, with our community, we can get over the hump. I thank you all for what you have already done. Let’s work together to make this happen for our men and women.

Thank you,

Tom Haddon for Operation Dad 2008

 

Steve Gill Takes His Show On The Road For Operation Dad 2008

Will You Be A Drop of Rain?

Operation Dad needs 25,000 drops of rain. One drop won’t accomplish much, but enough drops can turn a desert into an Oasis. We need 25,000 people to give 1 dollar by May 21st. It will cost a little over 5 dollars to send each package. (Yes we have checked with the Post Office and they won’t, and we have checked with the Military and they don’t have a plane).

Side Note! 500 of the 6000 packages being prepared with be for the ladies in the 506th Combat Brigade.

Here is the Fox Channel 17 report from last night.

 

Local Media Spreading The Word About Operation Dad

Most of the local TV Stations and a few of the radio stations are spreading the word about Operation Dad. Here is just a couple reports. One from local TV Report from WSMV Channel 4. and the other The Steve Gill Radio show with our own Tom Haddon and LaVern Vivio known on many radio stations in Nashville as U-Turn Lavern traffic reporter.