Operation Christmas Child (OCC). OCC is one of the ministries of Samaritan’s Purse, a Christian-based international relief organization. Samaritan’s Purse is headed up by Franklin Graham, the son of evangelist Billy Graham. OCC has two objectives, to demonstrate God’s love in a tangible way to needy children around the world, and together with the local church worldwide, to share the Good News of Jesus Christ. A shoebox contains items such as school supplies, small toys, washcloths, soap, and other items that we take for granted, but are in short supply in much of the world. Either within the shoebox, or at the time that the shoebox is given, each shoebox recipient receives a copy of the children’s storybook, The Greatest Gift, in their own language. This storybook explains God’s love for them. In the weeks that follow, study classes are offered to recipients to enable them to learn more about God and the salvation offered to us through His Son Jesus Christ.

For us in the United States, or one of the other participatory countries such as England, Australia, Canada, etc., OCC falls under the scope of Jesus calling us to the Great Commission which is found in Matthew 28:18-20; moreover, as Acts 1:8 shows our mission work is to take place locally, statewide, nationally, and around the world. God has not called me to go to the foreign mission field; however, I can support missionaries through my giving and prayer life. OCC is another way we can support missionaries in the mission field. In many parts of the world people either do not or are unable to give gifts to one another. In others, the custom is that you bring a gift when you come to visit. In either situation, a shoebox enables a missionary to get his foot in the door and the message about Christ heard. During 2010, approximately 8.2 million shoeboxes were collected. Among those receiving these boxes, each seven boxes leads to one profession of faith in Jesus Christ. The demonstration of God’s love through a shoebox gift from someone that doesn’t know them, opens the door for missionaries and the Gospel!

The great thing about this Samaritan’s Purse program is that it provides an opportunity for people of all ages to be involved in a simple, hands-on mission’s project while focusing on the true meaning of Christmas—Jesus Christ. This allows a church to involve all of their members in a mission project. I have attached a page (see below) listing the various materials that might be packed into an OCC shoebox. There are also a few items that should not be placed in a shoebox and these are mentioned as well. Whether you choose to be involved or not, I ask that your church pray for OCC, the distribution of the shoeboxes, the missionaries in the field, and that opportunities be created among them to share the Gospel message. In addition to these materials, you can find out more at the Samaritan’s Purse website:

Fairview Baptist Church (FBC) participates in OCC and is a relay center for Russell County. You can check on the Samaritan’s Purse website (or call 1-800-460-2856 to locate other Lake Cumberland Area relay and collection centers) if you are not close to us and desire to find out if there is a collection center nearer to your location. On their website Samaritan’s Purse also gives an address to which you can mail shoeboxes if there are not any collection or relay centers near your location. National Collection Week for shoeboxes is November 14-21, 2009. During that week, FBC has the following hours for shoeboxes to be dropped off:

Mon-Sat 4 p.m. – to – 8 p.m.

Sun 6 p.m. – to – 9 p.m.

Monday, the 21^{st, we will not be open to receive shoeboxes. (We are moving}

them to the collection center on this date.)

If these collection times do not work for you, call us at (270)-866-3401 or email us at fvchurch@duo-county.com, and we’ll work something out.