Mission Focus for September 2025 - Operation Christmas Child
"Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth” (Psalm 100)
Do you know why the red and green preprinted shoeboxes are known as GO boxes?
Because they are Gospel Opportunities
Why are they Gospel Opportunities?
Because every child who receives a filled box, will have the opportunity to hear the gospel story.
The mission of Operation Christmas Child is to demonstrate God’s love in a tangible way to children in need around the world. Through this project, Samaritan’s Purse partners with the local church worldwide to share the Good News of Jesus Christ.
11,927,439 boxes were filled, sent out and received in 2024 (11,330,126 in 2023)
241,015 boxes were sent from the UK in 2024 (237,735 in 2023)
10 countries received the boxes from the UK: Eastern Europe, Moldova, Albania, Serbia, Ukraine, Bosnia, Malawi, another W African country, Central Asia (not all countries can be named)
1 in 4 children who received a box gave their lives to Jesus. Hallelujah!
By filling a box you could be part of this great mission. Every child who receives a box will be blessed and will know that they are loved.
Boxes are available to pick up in the lounge along with leaflets.
Please could you also pick up the small plastic tubs and give what you can so that items can be bought for the shoebox filling party (Sat 15th Nov) - items have been sourced at incredible rates which is really encouraging but we need your help to buy them so that children may receive exciting gifts.
For any further information, please ask contact Jane Furlow.
From Shoebox Recipient To Church Partner
“Operation Christmas Child brought us a lot of blessings. My wife and I, have reached out to many poor children and the gift boxes helped us to explain God's love. We are thankful to God and Samaritan’s Purse for the gifts each year. I remember as a little boy getting an Operation Christmas Child shoebox, and it was a great delight. I have now been a part of leading outreach events for five years.
We also run the 12-lesson The Greatest Journey programme with children, and it is a blessing that we are able to explain our Greatest Gift, Jesus Christ, the Saviour of all.
At a home for neglected children we distributed about 50 boxes. I shared the Gospel with the children. They listened carefully and I remember saying: “Maybe your biological parents left you, but God, your Heavenly Father will never leave you.” It was a very emotional moment in my life, because I saw great happiness and joy when we shared the boxes and the Gospel message.”