Operation Christmas Child
by Midsouth Conference Staff • Published Wednesday, November 6, 2024
Operation Christmas Child, a project of Samaritan’s Purse, is gearing up for national collection week where gift filled shoeboxes are collected, processed, and then sent around the world to children in need along with the life-giving, hope filled message of Jesus Christ and His saving grace. Physical shoeboxes will be collected at drop-off locations the week of November 18-25 where they will be sent to processing centers for inspection and then shipped around the world. In 2023 the fruit of these shoebox gifts, and the Gospel message shared, resulted in an average of 331 children every hour accepting Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Praise the Lord! But it doesn’t stop there… Children are given the opportunity to attend a 12-lesson program called The Greatest Journey where they learn about evangelism, discipleship, and multiplication.
Please visit the website if you would like to learn more about this ministry and pack a shoebox gift. There are teams of volunteers serving year-round in each of our countries to assist you. You can also contact Patsy Dalton at patsydalton1953@gmail.com and she will be glad to connect you with a local team.
The deadline to pack a physical shoebox is quickly approaching though there is an online option to pack a shoebox up until December 31st. On the website, scroll to the bottom to find the option, “Pack A Shoebox.” Then, select and click “Build a Shoebox Online.” You will choose items to fill your donated shoebox for only $25. Shoebox gifts built online go to the ends of the earth to children in some of the hardest-to-reach places—whether deep jungles, city slums, steep mountainsides, or one of more than 1,000 remote Pacific islands. Many of these areas are resistant to the Gospel, for cultural or religious reasons, and are home to numerous unreached people groups, some of whom have never heard the Name of Jesus Christ.
Operation Christmas Child has been approved as a Samaria ministry for those churches working toward qualifying for the Acts 1:8 award to be given out at Annual Conference in June 2025. This article is written by Patsy Dalton an Area Coordinator for Samaritan’s Purse and Operation Christmas Child. It was submitted by the MidSouth Conference Missions Committee and published by the Communications Committee.
by individuals/families but no matter how or where they are packed the boxes and the
children to receive the boxes are prayed over many times before they are shipped to the
children in need.
by individuals/families, but no matter how or where they are packed, the boxes and the
children to receive the boxes are prayed over many times before they are shipped to the
children in need.
receiving countries go to great lengths to ensure that children receive the shoeboxes
and the life-giving message.
gifts. Just look at the joy these gifts bring.
have completed the 12 lesson program called The Greatest Journey discipleship
program. Upon completion, they get a certificate and a New Testament Bible in their
own language and what they learn they share with their friends and family making more
disciples for Christ.
