Operation Christmas Child 2018
Operation Christmas Child delivers great joy to millions of children around the world through shoeboxes lovingly and prayerfully packed with gifts that will bring delight to a child. Every gift-filled shoebox is a powerful tool for evangelism and discipleship—transforming the lives of children and their families around the world through the Good News of Jesus Christ! After receiving shoebox gifts, boys and girls are invited to enroll in The Greatest Journey, a 12-lesson discipleship program where children learn what it means to faithfully follow Christ and share their faith with others.
It’s part of who we are.
This ministry touches on so many things we care about at Calvary. It makes disciples by sharing the Gospel with whole communities around the world. It heals hurts by telling children God loves them. It meets needs by giving supplies and toys to children that have nothing or very little. Each box represents our desire to Reach, Build and Send disciples of Jesus. We reach the children with the Gospel through a shoebox gift. Their faith is built through the discipleship program Samaritan’s Purse offers recipients. Finally, they are sent to tell their families, friends, and communities about their faith. This is a simple gift that keeps on giving.
We have a big goal!
At Calvary, we look forward to participating in this ministry every year! This year, our Calvary Ministries goal is to collect 1,250 boxes, with 625 of those boxes coming from our church family. Shoeboxes are now available for pickup in the Welcome Center. Take a box home, fill it with items suggested by the Operation Christmas Child website, plus $9 for shipping and bring it back by November 11th.
Want to know where your box ends up? You may go online to pay for your $9 shipping. You will get a label for your box with a bar code that will send you an email update on its destination. You also get a donation receipt.
Besides filling boxes, you can also help by…
In addition to collecting boxes, we are collecting items to fill boxes at our Packing Party on November 3rd. Please consider helping us with the collection efforts by bringing in school supplies, hygiene items (no toothpaste, candy or gum), and toys — both small toys and larger ones like stuffed animals, dolls, cars, soccer balls (and hand pumps), and more. Collection buckets are in the Welcome Center, Hightower Hall, and the church office Lobby. You may also make a monetary donation to our OCC efforts by writing OCC on your check or giving envelope. Also, crucial to this ministry is prayer. Please be in prayer now for the recipients of these boxes, the people packing the boxes, as well as the ones delivering the boxes. If you have any questions about Operation Christmas Child, you can visit the Samaritan’s Purse website or email Laura Atterbury.
