On a mission to prepare its community for the Second Coming of Jesus, the Inverness Church aims to serve its neighbors in practical and intentional ways. In December, they partnered with Florida Conference to serve families through a toy drive designed to share God’s goodness.
Led by the Florida Conference youth and young adult ministries team, the December 6 toy drive was the largest to date. Church members and conference volunteers distributed more than 1,000 toys and gift cards to 250 families, benefiting 680 children who might not otherwise have received Christmas gifts.
According to organizers, previous toy drives had an average participation rate of about 65% among registered families. This year, approximately 90% of registered participants attended.
“It showed us just how much greater the need was in their community this year,” said Juan Rodriguez, director for Florida Conference youth and young adult ministries. Rodriguez also emphasized the importance of these events in creating personal connections. “The most meaningful thing was that real connections were made between members and participants. My wife, Odalys, connected with an individual we are continuing to help even after the event. Every email and phone number we collected is given to the pastors, so the church has 286 contacts of real people in their community that they can reach out to.”
In addition to receiving gifts, each family viewed a short video highlighting Jesus as the reason for the season. Volunteers and pastors prayed with participants, offering personal encouragement. During the event, one individual approached Orlando Lopez, Florida Conference president, with a specific prayer request. Lopez invited him to pray with the team, and church members later followed up to provide additional spiritual support.
Families were also invited to take a Bible, and several accepted. Organizers emphasized that families are welcome at the Inverness Church, and invited them to other community events such as family nights. These events ensure the community feels welcome without the pressure to attend Sabbath School or worship services.
Many recipients expressed appreciation for the assistance and spiritual care they received. Members of the Inverness Church said they were grateful for the Conference-sponsored toy drive, which allowed them to demonstrate the goodness of God to hundreds of families in their community, reflecting the biblical principle that “the goodness of God leads you to repentance and salvation,” Romans 2:4.
Florida | February 2026
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