Samaritan’s Purse Targets 8 Million Boxes This Season

Samaritan’s Purse’s Operation Christmas Child shoe box gift drive is about to begin, with collection dates set at various times in

November, depending on what country you live in. In the US, that week is November 17-24, a time when shoe boxes should be turned in to local collection points. From there, shoe boxes are transported to regional distribution centers where they are inspected and prepared for delivery to as many as eight million children in more than 100 countries.

Since the program was launched in 1993, more than 61 million boxes have been collected and distributed. As part of preparing for the campaign, Samaritan’s Purse asks that donors do the following:

Pray — The most important part of packing a shoe box is praying for the child who will be receiving your box. Although you won’t necessarily know who the recipient is, you can ask God to use your gift to reveal His love to the child in a special way and to draw that child to saving faith in Jesus Christ.

Pack — Lots of stuff can be packed in a shoebox including personal hygiene items, hard candy, school supplies, toys, and a personal note to the child. Find age appropriate material for the child that you want to help who will range in age from 2-4, 5-9, or 10-14; keep in mind whether you are packing for a boy or for a girl.

Samaritan’s Purse asks that you include a $7 check for each box that you pack as that money will defray shipping costs. You can find drop off locations by visiting Samaritan Purse’s website.

Give — Working with church partners around the world, Samaritan’s Purse makes available special Discipleship Program material and New Testaments for children who want them. Children who complete the Discipleship Program receive a New Testament, a program where you can contribute funds to separately if you desire. Donations can be made online or you can add those funds to your check and place it in your shoe box.

My Personal Involvement With Operation Christmas Child

For the record, I’m not directly tied in with Samaritan’s Purse, but have been a long time supporter of Operation Christmas Child. When I contacted them earlier this summer about providing public relations work, they mentioned that their greatest need is for more boxes. Therefore, I’m sharing that information with you, asking that you prayerfully consider how God would use you to respond.

Over the next few weeks, millions of people from around the world will be packing shoe boxes and dropping them off at collection centers. Feel free to share your experiences with Operation Christmas Child by leaving a comment at the end of this article. Ideas, tips, and other information you have to share can inspire so many others to contribute this year.

Let’s not allow the current economic climate stop us from participating in a wonderful event. Our God isn’t impacted by what goes on in the world, but we can impact the world one soul at a time by helping out in constructive ways including packing a shoe box for a child and bringing hope to them. Ask God to supply what you need to meet the needs of others — you’ll be glad that you did!

Addendum — Participating Countries

Lest I forget our friends from around the world who participate in Operation Christmas child, the following list and links are for the eleven countries where shoe boxes are collected and sent out. Thanks to The Gospel Report I can give you links to nine of the eleven websites, but our friends in Austria and Finland will have to search for that information locally:

We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain.

Sometimes a Bible verse will stand out from the included text, a snippet of God’s word to mull over. I realize that there can be a problem with pulling verses out of context, but if you remember the context from which it was pulled, then I see no problem with this practice.

Chapter 6 of 2 Corinthians serves to convey several points including:

• We are workers together with Him.

• Now is the day of salvation.

• We are ministers of God.

• Believers are not to be unequally yoked with unbelievers.

All four points are very important, but the first one is the perhaps the most amazing of all — God, the creator of the universe, uses fleshly man to relay His gospel message. Yes, our God has entrusted the work of bringing people to Him through the lives of those who follow Him. Imperfect, flawed, and mistake-prone people are God’s chosen vessels — an awesome responsibility that has been delegated to us.

Thankfully, God hasn’t left us without clear instructions on how to reach people for Him, otherwise this “campaign” would be a disaster. Church history is replete with examples of religious leaders ignoring, changing, or forgetting this edict, but that hasn’t negated God from getting the work done.

As followers of Jesus Christ we have some powerful “tools” at our disposal:

• The Holy Spirit

• The Bible

If we’re filled with His Spirit and we direct people to His word, then God will touch others as we rely upon Him. I’m not one for making up formulas, but I know that if we pray for the Spirit’s guidance and we stand upon the written word, then our words will be accepted by willing ears.

As a believer, the pressure is off of me other than to pray and to tell. God convicts the sinner — I’m not to force a conversion (which will probably be false) nor am I to rely on techniques — we know that in Acts that God adds to the church daily.

The final point — not being unequaled yoke is very important. Our kingdom work can be hindered if we’re married to someone who doesn’t believe, attend a fellowship not based on God’s word, or involve ourselves in anything that takes away from our relationship with God.

It is good for me to know that although I am not a perfect person, that Almighty God still desires to use me for His glory.