We recieved the following announcement from Samaritan’s Purse regarding the sucess of Operation Christmas Child:
Sharing the Gospel message is at the heart of all that we do through Operation Christmas Child. We are deeply grateful to your congregation for their faithful prayers and enthusiastic participation in the project in 2009. More than 8.1 million shoe box gifts–the most ever–were collected this past holiday season, with the United States contributing 5.2 million of those gifts. Because of churches like yours, boys and girls around the world will now have the opportunity to hear the Good News of God’s greatest gift, Jesus Christ!
That’s what makes Operation Christmas Child unique. The gift does not stop with the shoe box itself. Children are introduced to Jesus through colorful Gospel booklets handed out during the distributions. Local churches invite them to a follow-up discipleship program that includes a series of engaging Bible lessons. Graduates receive a New Testament to encourage them to learn more about the Savior. As they grow in their faith, these same children become witnesses of God’s love in their communities.
One of these children was Oksana Nelson, a Russian girl who received a shoe box at her orphanage ten years ago. The box was the start of great blessings in her life, and today the teenager is passing on those blessings to other hurting kids through Operation Christmas Child. We hope Oksana’s video report will encourage your congregation to know that their gifts are making an impact, both now and for eternity.
Thanks again for the wonderful privilege to partner with you in bringing the joyous news of the Savior to boys and girls across the globe. We would love to hear stories about some of the ways the Lord has used Operation Christmas Child to support your church’s mission efforts.
Dont forget to be on the lookout for good deals on items to fill your boxes this year. National Collection Week is November 15-22, 2010 and we will be collecting boxes at Riverside on Sunday, November 21, 2010.