Operation Christmas Child 2020
If you’ve been part of BPCC for a while you’ll know that across term 3 our church promotes and actively supports Operation Christmas Child. And you may be wondering if it’s going ahead this year. Well, I’m excited to say, yes, it is. COVID-19 restrictions will impact how we run the project at BPCC this year, but we are keen to continue our support of this amazing ministry.
Operation Christmas Child is a unique project of Samaritans’ Purse, that brings joy and hope to children in desperate situations around the world through gift-filled shoeboxes. OCC partners with local churches in developing nations to reach out to children by providing gift-filled shoeboxes and bringing the Good News of Jesus Christ. After receiving shoebox gifts, children are also invited back to their local church to participate in The Greatest Journey – an evangelism and discipleship program.
Every year, our Kidz Church children spend term 3 preparing and sorting items for the shoeboxes, ready for shoebox packing day at the end of the term. With church being online, and uncertainties around when and how our Sunday morning Kidz Church ministry might begin in person again, collection and preparation of shoebox donations may look a little different this year. We are looking at ways our Kidz Church children can still be involved this year in sorting and preparing items for the shoeboxes, as well as packing the boxes in September.
September seems a long way off but there are a number of things you can begin to do now in preparation for the appeal. You can start to look out for and collect suitable items for the shoeboxes. Excellent items to include are handballs, skipping ropes, small cuddly toys or dolls, skipping ropes, clothing suitable for children aged to 14 years, school supplies, toothbrushes, soap. You can begin to think about whether you’d like to pack your own shoebox this year and what age and gender you’d like it to be for. You can begin to prayerfully consider contributing financially to the cost of shoebox items and postage. And you can pray in advance for the children who will be receiving shoeboxes this year, that they will be filled with great joy and hope as they receive their gifts and hear about the love of Jesus.
You’ll begin to hear a lot more about Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes very soon as we start to finalise the details around the collection of donations and offerings, and the packing of the shoeboxes.
A small shoebox can have a big impact. Thank you, church for supporting the work of Samaritans Purse, and for helping to share to the love of God with children around the world.
