Samaritan’s Purse

“Operation Christmas Child” grew from a 1993 request received by Samaritan’s purse to fill shoeboxes with tangible signs of God’s love for children of Eastern Europe.  That first year 28,000 shoeboxes were filled.  Fast forward 30 years and more than 220 million shoeboxes have been distributed world wide.  Each child receiving a shoebox gift is given the opportunity to enrol in “The Greatest Journey” discipleship course.  At the conclusion of this 12 week course children are given an opportunity to make a decision to follow Christ if they so choose.   To date more than 20.2 million children have made this decision resulting is families & in some case entire villages following suit.
Over the past few years Operation Christmas Child has become one of the main branches of Bethel’s mission outreach.  God has stirred the heart of Bethel Community Church in a way that it cannot be explained other than God’s tremendous yearning for the hearts of children. With a goal of 50 shoeboxes in 2022, 63 shoeboxes were packed at Bethel.  A goal of 100 was set for 2023 and 208 shoeboxes were packed.  This past year we set a goal of 300 shoeboxes to be distributed from Bethel. Once again God showed us that we were thinking too small.  A total of 368 fully stuffed shoeboxes left Bethel Community Church on November 24, 2024.  There is no explanation for this other than that God’s plans are much bigger than ours.  November 24, 2024 saw our congregation truly unite in ministry as each in attendance participated with joy & prayer in passing each shoebox through  the door on their way to the hearts of children that God had prepared beforehand.

“A man’s mind plans his way [as he journeys through life], But the Lord directs his steps and establishes them.”  (Proverbs 16:9)

As God establishes His church world wide we bear in mind that each shoebox prayerfully packed & distributed is a Gospel opportunity where each child has the chance to learn of God’s love and in turn to impact their community for Christ.  Where God will lead us next in this ministry is truly up to Him.  We look forward to being part of His journey and seeing what He does through such a joyful & simple act of obedience.  May the glory & the reward forever be His.

“Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us,  to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” Ephesians 3:20-21

For more information: https://www.samaritanspurse.ca/operation-christmas-child-mission-history/