FBC Sevierville celebrates 40 years of ‘Christmas Store’
SEVIERVILLE — The Christmas Store, a ministry of First Baptist Church, Sevierville, celebrated 40 years of helping Sevier County residents in need during its annual event Dec. 12-13 at the church.
The ministry began as a project of the church’s Brotherhood (men’s ministry) and Royal Ambassadors and later evolved into The Christmas Store, recalled layman Dwight Stokes.
Stokes, who has served as general sessions and juvenile court judge In Sevier County since 1998, graduated from law school in the late 1970s and became involved in FBC’s Brotherhood ministry and served as RA director.
One of his mentors was Frank Atchley, a lifelong deacon at FBC and Stokes’ predecessor as RA director. “I went with him to deliver food and toys before the store started and he was at every Christmas Store as a counselor until he died. He led many people to Christ.”
The men would put together food boxes and the RAs would collect used toys that they would refurbish. Members of the Brotherhood and RAs would deliver the food and toys to families in need, he said. “We saw where the people lived and their needs and were able to share the gospel,” Stokes said.
He stressed that from the beginning, the entire congregation was involved. The church’s WMU and Acteens and Girls in Action (GAs) were active participants as were other groups in the church, Stokes said.
Forty years ago, leaders of the ministry felt they could serve more people if the event was held at the church campus, thus The Christmas Store was born, the judge said.
In the early years of the ministry, the event was still driven by the Brotherhood and RAs with help from the entire congregation, Stokes noted.
As they moved from refurbished toys to new toys, the RAs led the way in fundraising to buy toys and support the event, he added.
The RAs sponsored a basketball marathon over a 24-hour period and the boys would obtain pledges for the number of hours they played or a set amount, Stokes said, adding that it was not uncommon for some of the RAs to raise hundreds of dollars. “We would have a huge turnout.”
Stokes, who has served each year since the store began, expressed gratitude for all who helped launch the ministry and those who have kept it alive for 40 years. He specifically cited Lynn Caylor, now deceased.” She organized toys and along with her husband, Jimmy, would put batteries in the toys. She became the heart and soul of the toy store for decades,” he said.
“People in the community with needs knew they could come to The Christmas Store. …It has been a tremendous blessing.”
Each year parents could come and select for gifts for each of their children as well as receive food boxes. Parents also met with church volunteers who prayed with them and shared the gospel,” Stokes said,
Through the years the ministry has adapted. The RA marathon was phased out as funding was provided by other sources, he continued.
The Christmas Store — 2025
The Christmas Store has enjoyed the support of its pastors over the decades including current senior pastor and Tennessee Baptist Convention President Dan Spencer.
“Besides meeting nutritional needs and providing gifts that will bless children, The Christmas Store gives us an opportunity to meet the greatest need and give the greatest blessing — the gospel,” Spencer said. “Many of the people who are paired with a volunteer “encourager,” are at the lowest point of their life, and we get to listen to their stories, share our hope in Christ and pray for them. It doesn’t get any better than that!”
He also observed that there “is something special that happens when a congregation sees a need and comes together to meet it in Jesus’ name. And there is an extra-special kind of fellowship and unity produced when members young and old serve together.
“Every year I look forward to seeing people like Judge Stokes, who have been there from the beginning, serving alongside newer Christians who are taking their very first steps of service,” Spencer added.
Over the weekend of Dec. 12-13, The Christmas Store ministered to 125 families who registered for the event, said Craig Mintz, grow and go pastor at First Baptist. He has been involved with the ministry for 20 years.
On Friday, volunteers passed out food boxes to families without children, Mintz said. Large banana boxes were filled with food staples such as flour, rice, pasta, oatmeal, bread, fruit and more, he noted, adding that an anonymous donor also saw that each family was given a frozen turkey that could be used for Christmas dinner. The boxes were prepared the day before with help from about 50 volunteers, he said.
All total, more than 200 volunteers were involved in The Christmas Store, Mintz added.
On Saturday, parents arrived to select presents for their children They also received food boxes, hygiene items for the family and sweatshirt jackets for the children. After selecting the gifts, the parents visited with gospel encouragers. “As we meet these physical needs, we also meet spiritual needs. We pray with every family and give them an opportunity to hear and respond to the good news of Jesus Christ,” Mintz said.
While they are hearing the gospel, numerous volunteers wrap each present. Parents are able to get their cars and drive around where volunteers load the gifts and food boxes, Mintz said.
He observed that some of the people who visit The Christmas Store participate in some of the church’s ongoing ministries but many of the participants are first-time visitors.
He acknowledged that 40 years is a long time for a church to continue the same ministry year after year, but it has produced fruit. “We have seen people saved every year.”
Mintz also noted the ministry fulfills the church’s mission statement, “Helping people move from their point of need to hope in Christ.” B&R – Note: Wilkey served as editor of the Baptist and Reflector for 26 years prior to retiring at the end of 2024. He is continuing to contribute to the B&R as a freelance writer.