Believers Asked to Pray for Children in Global Christmas Outreach
by Allie Martin
November 10, 2004
(AgapePress) - Churches across the United States are taking part in the world's largest international Christmas project. Millions of shoe boxes filled with gift items will be collected this month at drop-off locations across the nation as part of "Operation Christmas Child."The gift-filled shoe boxes collected in the Operation Christmas Child project are distributed to needy children worldwide. Franklin Graham, president of Samaritan's Purse -- the ministry that oversees this annual holiday outreach -- is making a specific request of the families who participate in the project this year.
Franklin Graham | |
"Pray for the child that's going to get this box," Graham says, "because I want God to work a miracle in that kid's life. I want each of these children to come to know that there's a God in heaven who loves for them, a God in heaven who cares for them, and a God in heaven who's provided a way for them to be with Him one day -- and that's through faith in God's Son, the Lord Jesus Christ."The Samaritan's Purse spokesman points out that each shoe box, although small, can make a big difference in the life of a child. In addition to small gifts for children, each of the boxes will also carry a small tract, describing God's plan of salvation.
This is why Graham says, "We want every box to be prayed over. As a box is shipped out of a community, we want the church behind it, praying, because this is the largest Christmas program in the world -- the largest evangelistic outreach of its kind in the world. And to do this, it's going to take the prayers and the support of the Church of Jesus Christ."
The Operation Christmas Child shoe boxes will be collected the week of November 15-22 at more than 1,800 drop-off sites in all 50 states. Samaritan's Purse projects that more than seven million shoe box gifts will be delivered this year.
