Operation Christmas Child brings joy and hope to children in desperate situations around the world through gift-filled shoe boxes and the Good News of God's love. This program of Samaritan's Purse provides an opportunity for people of all ages to be involved in a simple, hands—on missions project while focusing on the true meaning of Christmas—Jesus Christ.

For Christmas 2008, PBPC children and members will collected shoeboxes full of gifts to ship around the world. These boxes were filled with school supplies, personal care items, and small toys and then wrapped for Christmas. To read more, visit Samaritan's Purse.org.

In Oakland, CityTeam Ministries is carrying on work that began in 1897, providing hot meals, safe shelter, showers, and clean clothing to this city's homeless population. CityTeam Oakland also has a wonderful caring medical staff that provides medical attention to over 250 needy people a month. A recovery program is in place for men that are on a road of destruction from drugs and alcohol. CityTeam is involved in real life situations with the people that walk through their doors. The caring staff at CityTeam, reaches out to those people in need and helps transform a life, heal a family, and break the cycle of destructive behavior or poverty. It shows people there is real hope in Christ to formulate an everlasting real change in their lives. To read more, visit Cityteam.org

As an expression of God's love, the mission of East Bay Habitat for Humanity is to create home ownership opportunities by building decent, affordable houses and by enhancing neighborhoods through partnerships with homeowners and the community. Visit www.eastbayhabitat.org

A grassroots, multi-ethnic, inter-denominational Christian organization, Harbor House welcomes children, youth, adults, and families to personal, social, and spiritual development through access to emergency food, clothing, job referrals, mentoring, tutoring--whatever will better their quality of life spiritually, economically, or socially. Harbor House celebrates the diverse, vibrant San Antonio community of Oakland, California, and creatively responds to its needs. Visit www.hhministries.org

World Impact/West Oakland is located in the Lower Bottoms neighborhood currently in the middle of a dramatic change of culture. They offer many programs that strengthen promote and help the community, but their primary mission is Jesus Christ and making Him known. The breakdown of the family is seen as the number one problem in the inner city. For this reason the organization's ministry focus is on relationship, discipling and restoration. The shortage of workers is severe, so there is a strong need for you to consider joining their ministry. Visit www.worldimpact.org/ministries/cities/oakland.php

Young Life goes where kids are, loving them unconditionally, earning the right to be heard and communicating God's love in terms kids can understand. For John, this means going into Oakland's high schools. Young Life leaders care enough to leave the comfort of their adult worlds and enter the arena of high school and middle school life. You will find John sitting in the stands at football games, walking the streets of Oakland neighborhoods, driving carloads of kids to the shopping malls or the Metreon in San Francisco, or sharing a latte at Starbucks. In fact, you will find him almost anywhere you can find kids. Young Life leaders model trust, respect, and responsibility to their young friends, and they do it within a meaningful context, within the context of a teenager's world. Visit Younglife Oakland

In response to God's love, grace and truth: The purpose of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship/USA (IVCF) is to establish and advance at colleges and universities witnessing communities of students and faculty who follow Jesus as Savior and Lord: growing in love for God, God's Word, God's people of every ethnicity and culture and God's purposes in the world. Yu-Shuan Sho is IVCF's representative at Mills College. She facilitates a Bible study for Christian students on campus and looks for service opportunities for them. She also meets with several students who are curious to know what Christianity is. Visit www.Intervarsity.org

The Bay Area Rescue Mission offers help for the "whole person":

• Food, shelter, warm showers and fresh clean clothes for the body…
• A gospel message of eternal hope for the soul…
• Biblical studies, computer aided learning, and GED preparation for the mind…
• Job skills training in culinary arts, warehousing, heavy equipment operation, office work, construction, security, janitorial service, and automotive sales and service for the hands…
• Parenting classes, job preparedness, anger management, counseling, and personal financial management classes for the character…
• Compassion, friendship, fellowship, retreats, outings, and prayer meetings for the heart…