“I don’t have any work,” he told ITMI’s Mark Parris, “and there was nothing for my children for Christmas.”

With gratitude in his eyes, the dad continued, “Thank you!”

Then he asked, “Why are you here handing out presents?” 

He wasn’t the first parent in the settlement to ask that question that day. 

Mark, the pastor of Durbanville Community Church in South Africa, was with other members of his church in Khayelitsha. 

Khayelitsha is a massive settlement where those unable to purchase property in the city live in shanties and shacks. 

They are marginalized, overlooked, and vulnerable in many ways. 

“We’re here,” Mark answered, “because our God loves to give gifts, and He’s given us His Son. Everything we are doing here is because of what God has done for us.”

The children were all smiles as they held their gifts, tangible reminders of the Good News they’d heard that day.