Church of God Partners with Operation Christmas Child
For years, the partnership and cooperation between the Church of God and Operation Christmas Child has been growing as we join together in service, reaching out to children in desperate circumstances around the world. It is a partnership that has been forged through the shared heart and passion to proclaim the gospel and care for those who are lost, hurting, and needy.
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Simple gift-filled shoe boxes, containing items such as school supplies, toiletry items, hard candy and small toys, are collected by the tens, hundreds — even thousands– all across the United States as many have found Operation Christmas Child to be a natural expression of their missional heart. The simplicity of the project sets it apart as a unique hands-on project that any age-level in a church can be a part of; and we rejoice that nearly 700 Churches of God have found Operation Christmas Child to be a strong support to their missions programs! What a blessing to find that the ministry has become a valued resource and to discover these partnerships that the Lord has established.
“The heart of Operation Christmas Child remains rooted in the vision to facilitate children coming to faith in Jesus Christ,” stated Dr. Donnie Smith, director of Care Ministries for the Church of God. “This vision has provided a common ground with the Church of God and ministries such as Operation Compassion, which has regularly contributed gift-in-kind items that has helped to generate over 200,000 shoe boxes. The joy that has come as a result of receiving such gifts is eclipsed only by the joy of finding hope and life in Christ as the gifts are given.”
“This year, we are praying that the Lord may provide 4.9 million shoe box gifts from the US which will become the tools in the hands of pastors worldwide to touch the hearts of children and their families for Christ,” Smith concluded. “We invite you to make Operation Christmas Child part of your annual missions programs by packing boxes and, most importantly, praying for those who will receive them!”
For more information about Operation Christmas Child, or to order materials, please visit www.samaritanspurse.org/occ or call 1-800-353-5949
