Operation Christmas Child is a project of Samaritan’s Purse, an international Christian relief and evangelism organization headed by Franklin Graham. The mission of Operation Christmas Child is to demonstrate God’s love in a tangible way to children in need around the world, and together with the local church worldwide, to share the Good News of Jesus Christ. Operation Christmas Child collects shoeboxes filled with school supplies, hygiene items, fun toys and notes of encouragement and delivers them to needy children. The gifts will go to children in some of the hardest-to-reach countries around the world to provide aid to victims of war, disease, disaster, poverty, famine, and persecution.
First Church of Christ has participated in Operation Christmas Child for many years. This is their second year to be a Collection Center. If your family would like to participate in this gift-giving ministry, preprinted shoeboxes and instructions on what to include in the boxes are available from the church at 585 E. North St., in Owosso. This project is a great teaching tool for families. A donation of $7 per box is critical to transport your shoebox into the hands of children in need. Nowhere else can you send a gift to a foreign country for only a few dollars.
All shoe boxes need to be returned to the church the week of Nov. 14 to 21 to be processed before Christmas. For more information, please call the church office at (989) 725-5039 or go online to samaritanspurse.org.
