Operation Christmas Child: Boxes of Blessings
By: Jarrod E. Stephens
The Ashland Beacon
History is filled with evidence that proves that many great endeavors have humble beginnings. What many call the “season of giving”, the weeks preceding Christmas, are filled with opportunities for groups and individuals to make an impact locally and globally through participation in the Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child. For more than three decades OCC has worked to distribute shoeboxes filled with small gifts that help to bring hope to the hopeless.
The name Billy Graham was a household name for many years as he held preaching crusades in numerous venues. Graham was well known for his compassion and faithfulness when proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus. As the elder Graham slowed his ministry due to age, his son Franklin became an instrumental part of carrying on his legacy. In 1993 Franklin was asked by a pastor friend from the United Kingdom if he could have a congregation fill shoebox with gifts to be given to kids in war torn eastern Europe. Calvary Church of Charlotte was able to fill 11,000 boxes that year and the ministry ballooned from that day forward.
The concept of filling a simple shoebox with small gifts may seem futile when considering the needs of people across the globe. Wars and famines pay no attention to the innocent as they rage. Graham was hopeful that the ministry would bring emotional relief for kids in Europe who were living through the Bosnian war. As God had led Franklin’s father to carry out spiritual preaching crusades, Franklin also followed God’s lead as the shoebox ministry grew exponentially. On the OCC website Franklin Graham states, “Every box is an opportunity to reach a child with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.”
Growing from the initial challenge, thousands of churches and community groups across America now set aside time each November to prayerfully pack shoeboxes to be sent around the globe. There are more than 4,500 drop-off points around the nation where the boxes are collected and then sent to regional distribution centers. Each box is examined to ensure that appropriate items are included for the region where the boxes will be sent. After leaving the United States the boxes are shipped to destinations where smaller distributors will continue to travel with the messages of hope. Boats, snow mobiles, small planes, camels and other draft animals are used to take the boxes into the most remote regions.
Whenever the boxes arrive at their destination, workers give the boxes to needy children and in many instances set up mission points where the locals can learn about the love of God. They created a curriculum called The Greatest Journey through which they minister to the people.
For more than twenty years, the church youth group at Emmanuel Missionary Baptist church in Oldtown has taken on the annual challenge of filling boxes in order to be a blessing to children around the world. This year they were able to pack 76 shoeboxes. The ministry holds true to goal of carrying out the Great Commission of Christ as it carries to Gospel and boxes of gifts into regions where poverty and oppression are common.
Since 1993 OCC has distributed more than 220 million gift laden shoeboxes to more than 170 countries and territories. While it is possible to place a hard number on the quantity of boxes distributed, the eternal and lasting impact is impossible to measure.
As we approach Thanksgiving and people begin counting down the days until Christmas, may we all search out ways to dig out some old-fashioned gratitude and lend a hand to those in need. Sometimes the smallest gestures can render the greatest results.
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