Area churches and other groups are collecting items such as small toys, school supplies, and hygiene items to pack in shoeboxes to send to children in need around the world as a means of demonstrating God’s love in a tangible way and to share the Good News of Jesus Christ. These simple gifts are shipped outside the United States to children affected by war, poverty, natural disaster, famine, and disease.

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19).
In the 11 countries where shoebox gifts are packed, Operation Christmas Child provides an opportunity for participants to be a part of fulfilling the Great Commission. In this church-to-church ministry model, churches who pack shoebox gifts partner with local churches around the world as they share God’s love with children in need and provide follow-up discipleship.
Operation Christmas Child is a project of Samaritan’s Purse, an international relief organization.
By partnering with the local church worldwide, each shoebox gift is a powerful tool for sharing God’s love — the Good News of Jesus Christ. Local Christians who know the culture and language best are given effective resources in their own language and a solid Biblical foundation so that they can communicate the Gospel within their own communities through shoebox outreach events and The Greatest Journey discipleship program. Learn more about how God is using Operation Christmas Child in the work of evangelism, discipleship, and the multiplication of believers.

Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes are more than a short-term humanitarian effort, the Good News of Jesus Christ the children have the opportunity to hear has eternal significance. It has been shown that most children that receive a shoebox and hear the Gospel will tell 7-10 others, usually family, friends and neighbors about what they learned.

You are invited to be part of this discipling outreach. Learn more about Operation Christmas Child near you at https://www.samaritanspurse.org/operation-christmas-child/frequently-asked-questions/.