My father, Rev. Ellis Nuckles, turned 76 years old on February 1, 2010. He has a twin sister, Alice Farmer. Ellis and Alice’s families often celebrate their birthdays together by hosting a traditional birthday party with gifts and a large family feast. However, this year’s celebration was vastly different.
At the end of 2009, my father and mother, Anna Nuckles, attended the annual Christmas Banquet at the SMCH. While there, each of my parents received a SMCH T-shirt and canister with a challenge. The goal was to fill the canister with donations for “The Home” by Super Bowl Sunday. Ellis and Anna left the Christmas Banquet excited about the opportunity presented by the T-shirt canisters. They were determined to fill them both!
As the date for my father’s birthday approached, he decided that the only gifts that he desired were donations to fill his canister for “The Home.” He called his twin sister and she decided that she wanted to be a part of this T-shirt canister project. They immediately began to make phone calls to invite family and friends to their Birthday Celebration in honor of the Smoky Mountain Children’s Home. When their older sister, Edna Childress (who also celebrates a birthday in the month of February) received her phone call about the celebration, she decided that she wanted her birthday to benefit the SMCH as well. By the time all of the phone calls were placed, 8 total family members with Winter Birthdays wanted to participate in this benefit!
On January 31, 2010 approximately 100 family members and friends braved the snow of Southwestern Virginia to meet and celebrate our family’s Winter Birthdays. After much fellowship, food, and fun, Ellis and his family raised over $1200.00 for the Smoky Mountain Children’s Home!!!
I was honored to watch my father and our family put their faith into practice by giving in this simple yet life-changing way. The decision made by Ellis and his sisters to donate their birthday gifts to “The Home” was a living example of the Biblical principle set forth in James 1:27: “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction . . .”
As my father turned 76 years old, he set another Godly example for me, and for all of you: The Lord only needs one willing vessel to accomplish His will! Ellis and his family chose to be used by the Lord to bless the SMCH. Their example encouraged their family, friends, and community to do the same. You too can follow after this Biblical principal! You can get involved with the T-shirt canister project at the SMCH by calling 865-453-4644. For more information about the Smoky Mountain Children’s Home, visit our website today: www.smch.cc
By Elizabeth Nuckles Durham,
Secretary to the Assistant Program Director,
SMCH
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