For the past month our church has been talking about Operation Christmas Child and collection week is finally here!

If Operation Christmas Child is new to you and you have never packed a shoebox gift, please check out theOperation Christmas Child website and this video below which tells more about the project.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQxzM08YDc0

As they say, all it takes is a simple gift to make a difference in a child’s life.  I hope you will all pack a box!  The deadline to drop off your boxes is this Sunday, November 24. After the second service the boxes will all be taken to one of the local collection centers. (Email harmony812 [at] gmail [dot] com to help take the boxes.)

Here is how to pack a shoebox gift:

Use an empty shoe box (standard size, please), a small plastic container or just grab a box from church. You can wrap the box (lid separately), but wrapping is not required. Most importantly, pray for the child who will receive your gift.

Determine whether your gift will be for a boy or a girl, and the child’s age category: 2-4, 5-9, or 10-14. Print out the appropriate boy/girl label by downloading the artwork from the OCC website. Mark the correct age category on the label, and tape the label to the top of your box.

Fill the box with a variety of gifts that will bring delight to a child.  Use the gift ideas provided on the bottom of this page.

Please donate $7 or more for each shoe box you prepare to help cover shipping and other project costs. You can give online by using the “Follow Your Box Donation” option, or you can write a check to Samaritan’s Purse (note “OCC” on memo line) and place it in an envelope on top of the gift items inside your box. If you or your family are preparing more than one shoe box, please make one combined donation.

Place a rubber band around each closed shoe box and drop it off at church.

And if you still need more motivation to pack a box…please visit the OCC Stories page to read story after story of how God uses these simple gifts to change hearts and lives and communities around the world.  It is truly amazing to see how God uses something we would consider insignificant to spread his Kingdom and glory all through the Earth.

If you have any questions, please contact kids@christcommunitychurch.com.

We had a great time at our Operation Christmas Child event yesterday!  We packed shoe boxes, learned about the journey a shoe box must take to reach its destination, ran a fun relay race and heard about the impact our shoe box gifts may have on the child who receives it.

These impact stories illustrate exactly why we are participating in this project.  Even the simplest item can change a child’s life forever.  It is amazing what God can do through these shoe box gifts.  I know I am overwhelmed every time I read a story (and there are MANY more that just these few I will share with you) telling how a child received JUST what he or she needed.  Our God is so good and knows our every need and provides lavishly.  His generosity and mercy compels me to want to give to others who are in need of simple comfort and in need of the life-saving message of the Gospel and I hope it compels you as well.

Here are a few of the stories we shared yesterday:

• Ruphina’s Story (Kazakhstan):Ruphina got word that a free gift distribution was taking place in her town in Kazakhstan, a country that borders Russia in Europe. It was a rainy day, but Ruphina gathered her siblings and cousins to go receive shoe box gifts. When Ruphina and her family arrived at the place where gifts were being handed out, there was a video about Jesus playing. She began to rejoice over Him, even before she opened her shoe box. There were many small things that Ruphina saw when she opened her box, but one thing caught her attention. A pink shirt was just her size and instantly became her favorite clothing item. She had never had much clothing, but she felt that Jesus had designed that box exactly for her.

• Ricardo’s Story (Mexico) – Ricardo: In the rural areas of Mexico, 13- and 14-year-old boys don’t get to play video games or go to school. They are expected to help support their families financially by working long days. For some, this means herding cows. For others, it means tending the nets on a fishing boat. All the hard work can cause blisters and sores, because there is no equipment to protect the boys’ feet and hands. When Ricardo opened his box, he was pleased to find a pair of yellow work gloves. He said “Wow, gloves! They’ll fit all this year and next.” Can you imagine being so grateful for gloves that you would have to use to do work and chores? Well Ricardo was, because they will help him and his family with expenses. Ricardo and 300 others in his village received gifts that will allow them to play and work for a long time.
  
  
• Bakatwamba’s Story (Democratic Republic of the Congo): In the Democratic Republic of Congo, twelve-year-old Bakatwamba lives with his parents. Due to financial hardship, Bakatwamba’s parents were not able to purchase a school bag for him and he was forced to carry his things in a paper bag. When he opened his shoe box gift, Bakatwamba was overjoyed to discover a brand new school bag. The gift encouraged him to continue with school in an environment where there is a high drop-out rate. Through Operation Christmas Child, Bakatwamba also had the opportunity to enroll in a discipleship course with materials furnished by Samaritan’s Purse and later received Christ. After graduating from the discipleship course and receiving his certificate, his entire family became interested in learning more about Jesus, and Bakatwamba was equipped to share the Gospel with them. The family now regularly attends a local church.

• Lejla’s Story (Bosnia):

The Lejla Allison Story from Samaritan’s Purse on Vimeo.

As I said, these are only a few of the stories that have come from children affected by the love of Jesus sent through shoe box gifts.  If you want to see or hear more please visit the Operation Christmas Child website.

Also, if you haven’t packed a box (or two!) yet, there is still time!  Please visit this page to learn what you need to do to pack a shoe box.  You can even print out your label from online and track your box to see where in the world your boxes will travel too.

This is a great opportunity to make a difference in child’s life at such a low cost to yourself.  Please pack a box today!

Deadline to return boxes is next Sunday, November 20.  We will have a collection station in the foyer of the church…Look for the giant shoe box!