End Time Ministries International held a huge backpack giveaway celebration this summer and handed out a whopping 1,000 backpacks to local students in need. This allows student to have that inclusive feeling as they prepare for a new school year.

This is the second year End Time Ministries hosted a Back 2 School Giveaway and Mini-Carnival Aug. 6. Cotton candy, inflatable bouncy houses, and tours inside a Madison Fire Department truck created long lines for excited youngsters. The backpacks were stuffed with essentials like folders, pencils and notebooks.

Bishop Godfrey Stubbs, senior pastor of End Time Ministries International, says that he was elated by the attendance, the volunteers and the generosity of community partners who aided in making the fun-filled event a huge success.

Getting students ready to start the new school year comes with excitement and a bit of worry for some families. With inflation soaring and impacting every area of life, including school supplies, this Madison church is doing all it can.

“We are here to take that burden off the parents,” he said. “We are called as a church to serve the community, and this is one way we can serve and one way we can give back and embrace the community.”

Ear-to-ear grins were plentiful this day as kids eagerly pranced around with their brand new backpacks and school supplies. It was a welcome treat, families said.

“What a blessed day,” said state Rep. Shelia Stubbs, pastor and the church’s first lady. “This is the second straight year of hosting this event and it’s much larger than the first. … To see the smiles on these children’s faces is priceless.”

End Time Ministries began as an extension of vacation Bible school in Madison’s Bridge Lake Point Neighborhood. It officially became known as End Time Missionary Baptist Church in the summer of 2003.