BATESVILLE, Ark. (ABP) -- Kinley Stevens, 2, couldn't wait to go Christmas shopping for her mom, dad, sister and even her dog, Ace. But the experience would be far from typical as she and her grandmother, Pearline Mohlke, would go to church instead of the mall.

Stevens and Mohlke were among several grandparents and children who attended the "Angel Breakfast" at West Baptist Church in Batesville, Ark.

About 60 children and grandparents were treated to a big country breakfast of sausage, bacon, pancakes and juice as they arrived at the church Dec. 3. Everyone played Christmas games before trouping over to the family life center to buy gifts for family and friends at a Christmas store filled with crafts and other inexpensive items.

West Baptist Church members donated everything for the event, including money to purchase the items. The children were able to purchase gifts for $1 a piece with all proceeds going to the church's children's ministry fund.

In a special story time following the breakfast, church member Linda Moore read “The Christmas Lizard,” a book that tells the traditional Christmas story in a unique way.

“This [event] really has a good meaning,” says Linda Creighton, who brought her two granddaughters, Lauren, 9, and Lindsey, 4. “I'm really excited about how we blended the Christmas story about baby Jesus and why we give gifts to begin with,” she continued.

In years past, the church took preschoolers to a local dollar store during the Christmas season to purchase gifts for their parents. “This year we thought it would be better if we had something here,” says Jennifer Matthews, West Baptist Church's children's director.

“I really wanted something that would bring our grandparents and our children together,” says Matthews.

“I grew up very close to my grandparents and I know what an influence they were in my life as Christians and how special that relationship was to me,” she continued. “Sometimes our grandparents don't realize how important they are.”

Some of West Baptist Church's adults, including minister of music Ron Taylor, came to serve as “surrogate grandparents” for children who might need them. “This is the first thing we've ever had like this. It's a great idea.”

“I think it's pretty neat that we can all get together to do this,” says Katie Lewis, 10. Because Katie and her family are natives of Texas, Batesville resident Helen Baker attended the event as her “adopted” grandmother. Her mom, Wendy, was also on hand to help out with the festivities.

“We just enjoy doing things with our grandkids,” says Gaye York. “Anything we can do to spend time with them and especially things through our church. It's just important to us.” Gaye and husband, Melvin, who are both members of West Baptist Church, brought their granddaughters Kelli, 7, and Cassidy, 3.

“This [Angel Breakfast] is something I feel like our kids will remember,” Matthews explained. “If we can do this every year, that will make a bigger impact on our kids than we even realize.”

-- Lisa Watson is a correspondent for the Arkansas Baptist News.

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