This year we had a spectacular turnout for Operation Christmas Child. But before we get into that, a little background. Operation Christmas Child’s aim is to share the love of Jesus though gifts to children in developing countries. This happens by filling a shoe box with toys, personal items and gifts that the children who would receive them can find worth and blessing. A small shoe box can have a big impact. What goes into the box is fun, but what comes out of it is eternal. Be a part of changing children’s lives all over the world in Jesus’ Name through the power of a simple gift with Operation Christmas Child.
FaithPoint has had a rich history of participating with Operation Christmas Child. Throughout the years we have had different leaders championing this mission. This past year there was a void in this ministry area when our previous advocate, Irene, moved. However, God is good and Courtney Ward stepped up into the leadership of this great ministry. Courtney, a relative newcomer to FaithPoint has jumped into the mission areas with both feet. She decorated a trunk for our trunk or treat and fanned the flame of Operation Christmas Child into a contagious fire. We even had one family generously donate the shipping cost of the boxes because of the energy around this mission. For the first time we had a packing party after our Sunday Worship and the congregation packed and fellowshiped together. check out some of the pictures here from an earlier post.
As we have counted the final numbers we were able to fill 37 boxes to be shipped out to children all over the world. This is an all-time high for us!!
When asked about what makes OCC so special to her Courtney said:
Operation Christmas Child isn’t a cause that you can say “Oh, yeah, I’ll donate a couple dollars when the offering plate goes around,” and forget to drop in your $5. You can’t make back payments or put it off until next year when you get your Christmas bonus and 2% pay raise. You have an immediate need in front of you. You have one job, one mission, one chance, to take action.
You pack a shoebox full of gifts to give to a child living in a country, a continent, which you’ll probably never visit in your life. Your goal is to put every experience you have ever had during your childhood Christmases into a single package for a child to open for the first and, most likely, only time in their lives – children who have been abused, orphaned, riddled with cancer and HIV/AIDs, and have never heard about God or Jesus Christ. You have one chance to make them a gift so spectacular that it not only makes up for all of the Christmases they missed out on, but tells them how much they are loved by someone who they will probably never meet. It’s a daunting task, to say the least.
This is just one of the ways FaithPoint seeks to bring Real and Life-changing Faith to Real people all around the world.
If you would like to get to know Courtney a little better connect with her on Sunday morning, but until then you can read a little more of her story from this post.