Samaritan’s Purse has announced they exceeded their donation goal of 10 million gift-filled shoeboxes in 2014.
Operation Christmas Child collects boxes from the United States and 12 other Western nations. The boxes are filled with small, age-appropriate gifts for children around the world who would not have a Christmas without the donations.
The organization said that 10.4 million shoeboxes came in for 2014, 8 million from the United States. The boxes then are distributed in over 100 nations around the world.
“The 10 million shoeboxes are being distributed worldwide right now. We are sending these gifts to local churches in more than 110 countries around the globe this year,” Operation Christmas Child’s domestic director Randy Riddle told The Christian Post. “That was our worldwide goal and our global goal: collecting shoebox gifts in 13 countries and sending them around the world. We are very thankful to surpass our global 10 million goal.”
In addition to the gifts, each box contains information about Christ.
“This is many times the first time that these children have ever received a gift of any kind,” Riddle explained. “Working with our local church leaders, this platform allows us to share the Gospel with children who have never heard about Jesus before, or never had an experience like this before to hear a clear presentation of the Gospel.
“We have Gospel literature that is handed out alongside every shoebox gift and there is typically a verbal proclamation of Gospel with the shoebox gift,” Riddle continued. “It teaches these children that there is someone here on this Earth that loves them and cares about them and has not forgotten them and that there is a God in Heaven who loves them as well.”
The annual Operation Christmas Child drive to provide gifts and necessities for children in need around the world is sending over 60,000 boxes to children in areas hit hard by Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines.
Franklin Graham, head of Samaritan’s Purse, spoke of the importance of these gifts to those children.
“Do you know what these gifts are going to mean to these kids? It means that somebody loves them, it means they haven’t been forgotten. It will mean everything in the world. It will give these little kids hope,” Graham said at an event in New York.
The New York event included families impacted by Hurricane Sandy last year.
“I packed stuffed animals, which I think they will hold at night and fear for nothing and know that God will be in control,” 11-year-old Diana Barbacena told the Christian Post. Barbacena had to be evacuated last year from her home when Hurricane Sandy struck the Atlantic Coast.
Overall, Operation Christmas Child celebrated its 20th anniversary by collecting around 9.8 million shoeboxes full of gifts and supplies for children in over 100 countries on six continents.
Operation Christmas Child program was started in 1993 by Reverend Franklin Graham who is the President of Samaritan’s Purse. This is a wonderful humanitarian organization that helps suffering people worldwide by meeting their needs and sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ.
Franklin Graham has led Samaritan’s Purse in following the example of the Good Samaritan throughout the world. Explosive growth has been experienced because of God’s blessing on this organization under the leadership of Franklin Graham.
Samaritan’s Purse has delivered a message of God’s love through gift-filled Christmas shoe boxes. Over 100 million boys and girls in more than 130 countries have experienced God’s love by receiving these shoeboxes. These gifts are a means to reach the hearts of children with the life-changing Good News of Jesus’ love. Continue reading →
Many have heard of Samaritan’s Purse and their Operation Christmas Child program. Reverend Franklin Graham is the President of this wonderful humanitarian organization. The goal of Samaritan’s Purse is to help suffering people by meeting their needs and especially sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ.
Every year in support of Operation Christmas Child, thousands join in to help purchase and fill shoeboxes with items for children all over the world. These shoeboxes are full of fun gifts and needed personal items for unprivileged children who otherwise would not receive gifts. This year is very unique because Operation Christmas Child has just surpassed the 100 millionth shoebox!! Continue reading →
Morningside Church and the Jim Bakker Show wrapped 117 gifts (one for each employee) for Operation Christmas Child, a ministry of Samaritan’s Purse.
Each shoebox contains little treats, toys, and toiletries that will be sent to children in impoverished, war torn countries.
We would like to share a sneak peek of the fun we had with a full story to follow on Monday. Continue reading →
