Operation Christmas Child is a program where churches and other Christian fellowship groups can send gifts to children in need in other countries across the world. These gifts don’t come in the usual wrapping paper with a pretty ribbon, though. Instead, Samaritan’s purse, the company that created and runs Operation Christmas Child, distributes the gifts in shoeboxes. This is to give this particular ministry a sense of uniqueness with the children; when they see these shoeboxes with the OCC logo, they know that it is from people all the way across the world who they will likely never meet, but who still care about them and want them to learn about the love of God.
Primarily, the boxes are filled with essentials like hygiene products, notebooks and markers, and various toys based on the age group that the gift-giver selected. On top of all of that, though, the children are given a hand-written note expressing the love and prayers of the gift-giver. Samaritan’s Purse speaks further about what they have accomplished, saying, “Since 1993, over 220 million boys and girls in more than 170 countries and territories have experienced God’s love through the power of simple shoebox gifts from Operation Christmas Child. Samaritan’s Purse works with local churches and ministry partners to deliver the gifts and share the life–changing Good News of Jesus Christ.”
Dee-Mack’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes has participated in Operation Christmas Child for several years now. It is a great way for high school students to share the Gospel and give to others who are around their age or younger. Long-Time FCA member Lincoln Rassi described the joy of gifting boxes to children through Operation Christmas Child, saying “It’s a very rewarding experience to get with a group of fellow Christians and put together something that you know will be really impactful and beneficial for someone all the way across the world in a way that a student at Dee-Mack High School normally wouldn’t be able to. Not just physically, like with the gifts that we’re sending, but also being able to share the Gospel with them.”
Videos and letters often get sent back from the children and ministries in the countries that the boxes go to, which allows participants of Operation Christmas Child to experience the joy that the children feel, and get the greatest reward of all for helping someone: being able to see their smile. There is nothing like seeing a video from a country that you have never visited, but knowing that a gift you gave is present in the pile of shoeboxes. So, what’s the greatest gift someone can get on Christmas? Being able to help others and share the Gospel.
