Shoeboxes

Reaching children is a viable and effective strategy of the Church, recognizing their hearts are more open when young to receive the truth of the gospel. Matthew 19 states:
13 Then little children were brought to Him that He might put His hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them.
14 But Jesus said, "Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven."
15 And He laid His hands on them and departed from there.
Oh, and by the way, Jesus taught that we are all to approach Him as little children, with an willing and submissive heart, possessing openness and humility.  Ministry to children is a tool that God can use to touch entire families, and it's important that the body of Christ is engaged in reaching them in that critical time.  And, you know, it doesn't always take a big program to reach them; sometimes, it's a one-on-one conversation, a time to listen and love.

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God is dedicated to doing good works through His people who desire to be obedient to Him.  In
Matthew 10, we read where Jesus sent out His disciples:
5 These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying: "Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans.
6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
7 And as you go, preach, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.'
8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.

Today is the final day of National Collection Week for Operation Christmas Child - centers all across the Faith Radio listening area have been available, receiving these shoebox gifts filled with toys, school supplies, and hygiene items for needy children all around the world.

This is the 25th anniversary year of Operation Christmas Child.  It's an effort that started with a phone call.  The Samaritan's Purse website relates:

During the summer of 1993, Samaritan’s Purse President Franklin Graham received a call from a man in England asking his help on behalf of children in Bosnia who were suffering because of a brutal civil war. The Englishman specifically asked for shoeboxes filled with gifts to deliver to these little ones at Christmas. Samaritan’s Purse was already working in Bosnia, and Franklin had been there three times in the previous year, so he was eager to help.

It was summer and Franklin set it aside - until, that is, he received another phone call from the same man.  So, Graham swung into action; he called a pastor friend, Ross Rhoads, in Charlotte, who organized an effort to collect shoeboxes.  The website says:

Shortly after Thanksgiving, Ross called Franklin to report that 11,000 shoebox gifts were now lining the hallways of his church!

Combining these gifts with more from our Canadian office, Samaritan’s Purse sent 28,000 shoebox gifts to children in Bosnia that Christmas. Ross and Carol Rhoads traveled to the war-torn nation to help us distribute them.

Since that initial year, Operation Christmas Child "has partnered with local churches around the world to deliver 157 million Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts to children in need in 160 countries. Each one—packed full of fun toys, school supplies, and hygiene items by a family or individual—is sent with prayer that the child who receives it will experience God’s love through their simple gifts."  There are also eight countries where shoeboxes are packed.

One of those who have been reached is Felisha on the island of Trinidad.  The article on the website says that when she was eight, she received a shoebox with "a doll, stationery, colorful socks, and a teddy bear."  She said, "I didn’t know anything about Jesus because I had never been to church before, so I was really curious."  She went to church, and the next year, her sister received a shoebox; their father said, “I was amazed at the love I saw in those boxes.”

Now the entire family has accepted Christ and they have planted a church.  Felicia is now 25 years old.

Shoebox recipients are also invited to attend a 12-week discipleship program called, The Greatest Journey.  Dariya from Mongolia is a child who was strengthened in her faith through receiving a shoebox and going to the program.  According to the Samaritan's Purse website, Dariya received a box back in February.  The story says that her parents are divorced; her mother works often in South Korea.  The article relates:

“I miss my mom when she’s in Korea,” Dariya said. “Sometimes I call my mom and I share what’s on my heart and sometimes I cry.”

But the day she received her Operation Christmas Child shoebox gift was a particularly bright spot for her.

“They told us about Jesus,” Dariya explained. She had become a Christian in 2016, but the outreach event sponsored by a local church in 2018 helped her understand more about the God she’d committed to serve.

At The Greatest Journey sessions, we are told:

At these classes joined by other shoebox recipients, Dariya learned more about God and how to share him with others.

“Because I attended the 12 lessons of The Greatest Journey, I am changed,” Dariya said. “I developed more of a relationship with God.”

She cites a range of evidence of how God has worked in her life through this course.

“Before I wasted my time a lot just searching on my mobile phone and didn’t keep my room tidy,” Dariya said. “After The Greatest Journey, I keep my room tidy and spend more time with [cousin] Hannah.”

And, Dariya writes in her prayer book on a daily basis.

So, today, as National Collection Week concludes, there is much to celebrate about the work of Operation Christmas Child.  And, if you have not turned in a shoebox, you can actually pack one virtually through the Samaritan's Purse website.  There are several considerations for us.

Number 1, Franklin Graham didn't set out to build a new ministry, he just responded to a need.  I think that perhaps we can become concerned about building empires or doing something great for God, but a simple response, a simple act of obedience, is what He's calling for.

Also, we can see how God will use various tools to open the hearts of people so they will receive the gospel.  In this case, it's the shoebox that produces joy, openness, and trust.  The shoeboxes are used by the Lord to build relationships in the community, and provide an opportunity for the gospel to be shared.

Participation in Operation Christmas Child can help to facilitate families working together to serve. And, for kids, it can shift the focus at Christmas away from receiving and on to giving.  We can become more mindful of children in need all around the world and develop a greater sense of compassion for those less fortunate than ourselves.