Laura Young
ECB Publishing, Inc.
Service project leaders at churches and civic groups are invited to attend a workshop to learn about the Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Ministry. The informational meeting, including lunch, is scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 27, at 11 a.m. at Central Baptist Church of Aucilla (625 Tindell Rd.).
Attendees will receive the latest updates on Operation Christmas Child, hear success stories about last year's shoebox gift recipients and get creative tips for organizing this year's outreach locally.
Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Ministry is a program of Samaritan's Purse, an international, evangelical Christian, humanitarian aid organization headed by Franklin Graham, son of evangelist Billy Graham. They coordinate Operation Christmas Child as one of their outreach programs, working with volunteers who prepare the shoebox gifts as well as ministries in the recipients' communities.
“Each year, we partner with churches and ministries in more than 100 countries to tell boys and girls about Jesus through Operation Christmas Child,” says Graham in the program brochure. “That's just the beginning. Through The Greatest Journey, our follow-up discipleship program for shoebox gift recipients, children learn about Christ's love and share their faith with others.”
A gospel booklet entitled “The Greatest Gift” accompanies each shoebox gift and is available in more than 80 languages. Shoebox gifts have been delivered on camelback to desert communities, by speedboat in the Pacific Islands and by bicycle up mountain trails. Each shoebox gift is meant to be unique, and may contain one “wow” item, some simple toys, personal care items, school supplies and accessories like socks, sunglasses or jewelry.
Local groups can learn how to organize the giving end of this project at the workshop. Ministries in recipient communities also attend trainings to learn how to organize outreach events during which the gospel will be shared, the shoebox gifts delivered and followup discipleship offered.
For more information about the workshop and the local Operation Christmas Child effort, contact Sharon Morris at (850) 728-6559.