Rose Messick has served for many years at Landmark Church of God in Statesville, NC, including her ministry to young girls as part of the Wednesday night “Joy Build” class. As part of this program, Rose has implemented a time of service, incorporating Operation Christmas Child as a practical missions opportunity. With the shared heart to reach out around the world to bring the message of the Gospel, Operation Christmas Child provides an avenue to engage these young women with a hands-on opportunity to touch the lives of children and families in desperate circumstances.
As the girls in Joy Build packed shoe boxes full of school supplies, hygiene items, small toys and stuffed animals, Rose discovered a powerful opportunity for them to give of themselves, and think of others in need. Rose appreciates the special connection that this builds for the girls, as they consider what a child their age might enjoy. She also incorporates a time for prayer, committing the shoe box gifts to God’s care and asking Him to use them in the lives of the children who will receive them.
Once Rose saw how powerful Operation Christmas Child was through the Joy Build class, she brought it to the attention of the whole congregation. To kick off Operation Christmas Child at Landmark, announcements were made in the main worship service, and a display of OCC information was set up in the main lobby, including the Operation Christmas Child video and posters.
Rose shares the blessing of participating in OCC, knowing that God is working through simple shoe box gifts to impact lives for eternity. She has been especially touched by the testimonies of children who have received gifts, recalling one special story of a little girl for whom God provided shoes that she needed to attend school. The shoes became a clear expression to her of a God who knows her and loves her, opening the door to share God’s greatest gift, Jesus Christ.
Through their gift-filled shoe boxes, the girls of the Joy Build class and the entire Landmark Church of God family are sharing God’s love in a tangible way, and, most importantly, are facilitating children coming to faith in Jesus Christ. In the past, the church has collected anywhere from 35 to 110 shoe box gifts, but Rose indicates is would be worth it if even 1 or 2 gifts were provided, since each gift represents the life of a child.
For more information about how Operation Christmas Child may serve alongside your church, please visit www.samaritanspurse.org/occ. National Collection Week is November 15-22, 2010.
(Source: Operation Christmas Child)