Samaritan’s Purse continues decades-long Operation Christmas Child ministry in the country to point children to salvation in Jesus Christ.
Lima, Peru—a city 10 million people call home—is a vibrant place of ministry for Operation Christmas Child. Decades of Samaritan’s Purse outreach events in this South American country have already enabled 5 million children to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ—and the work continues. The Peru National Leadership Team, made up of six experienced, passionate volunteers, desires for more children to be saved and develop a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
Samaritan’s Purse COO Edward Graham, his wife, Kristy Graham, and their children went earlier this year to Lima to participate in this exciting effort. They witnessed firsthand how church leaders and Operation Christmas Child partners who have grown up in these communities are now equipping the next generation by sharing how the Lord captured their hearts. It greatly blessed the Graham family to pass out gift-filled shoeboxes to the children.
Ministering to the Shipibo-Konibo Community
Originally from Peru’s Amazon jungle region, the Shipibo-Konibo people were forced to leave their land in the 1990s and eventually settled in Lima, establishing the country’s first native urban community. This indigenous group has historically been isolated, but recently, Samaritan’s Purse held Operation Christmas Child outreach events in this community for the first time.
At Escuela Shipibos, a school made up of children from the indigenous people group, a ministry partner named Kelly led the event where the boys and girls were surprised with shoebox gifts. She has a passion for sharing about God’s love to this community, and was excited to share the message that changed her life.
Kristy Graham delivers shoebox gifts at Escuela Shipibos.
As Kelly led the children in singing and dancing, genuine joy radiated from her. Just as intently, she then transitioned into sharing the Gospel message, and eventually invited the kids to The Greatest Journey, a follow-up discipleship course of 12 Bible lessons that teaches boys and girls to follow Christ and share Him with others.
In her talk, Kelly said that the greatest gift is not the box of gifts they were about to receive—it is what Jesus did for them on the cross.
Kelly and her friends saw this outreach event as a great opportunity to do what they love. “We prayed in the car, asking God to really prepare the hearts of those children, of whoever was going to receive the message,” Kelly said. “And, we know that God did move.”
Kelly (center) tells children stories about Jesus from the Bible during a Gospel presentation.
Above all, Kelly was grateful the Lord used her as an instrument for His glory. She said, “We know that God did a miracle and did His work in this event, this outreach today, so we’re very happy to have been part of that.”
God opened the opportunity for Operation Christmas Child to work with this school as well as a church in the area. Pastor Elfren Sanchez established Iglesia Evangélica Shipiba de Cantagallo Nación Celestial over 10 years ago with the sole purpose of sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ to the Shipibo-Konibo community.
When he was 23, Pastor Elfren felt God calling him into ministry—a labor of love to which he has since dedicated his entire life. Pastor Elfren serves a community of 2,000 people and actively seeks out opportunities to share the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. That is why a partnership with Operation Christmas Child was such an answer to prayer.
There is still much more work to be done and many outstanding needs, both materially and spiritually, within this community. Pastor Elfren said, “Many of the youth that come into the big city … they get exposed to things, bad things—corruption, crime, drugs, you name it. So that’s a big challenge for us.”
Pastor Elfren delights in receiving soccer balls from the Grahams that will equip him in ministry to his community as Andres Almeida, Operation Christmas Child regional manager for South America, translates for the trio.
But this outreach event was a stepping stone to help the next generation of Shipibo-Konibo children to know Christ and enter into a relationship with Him.
When he was asked about what it was like to see the boys and girls open their shoebox gifts, Pastor Elfren said, “I’m very grateful. The children are very joyful.”
Going Full Circle with a Shoebox Gift
Up the mountain at Iglesia Jesucristo es la Única Esperanza, dozens more children heard about Jesus. Led by Pastor Ivan, this church serves vulnerable families in the Pamplona community, who years ago were displaced by the Shining Path (“Sendero Luminoso”) guerilla group. The church’s partnership with Operation Christmas Child is playing an important role in empowering the congregation in the work of evangelism.
Elipas works tirelessly and serves the community where he was born and raised. He grew up going to this very church and remembers going to Sunday school from age six all the way through 14. Now an adult, the pastor gave Elipas the opportunity to get involved as a Sunday school teacher. He said, “I’m very happy to be here and to be serving now at the place that served me.”
Elipas communicated the Gospel to children with enthusiasm at the Operation Christmas Child outreach event.
At the outreach event, Elipas led the Gospel presentation with enthusiasm. This was special to him for many reasons. Elipas received a shoebox gift when he was five years old. “I was also a recipient; they gave me a box as a child and to actually be part of an event where we’re giving away boxes to other children is a huge blessing to me.”
Children and their families pause to pray before opening their Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts.
Twenty-two years after receiving his own shoebox gift, he was able to share a similar tangible expression of God’s love with other children. This brought the experience full circle for him. Elipas considers it a privilege to have taken part in this event and to watch each of the children receive a shoebox gift.
“Children are so bombarded by so many other voices all the time,” Elipas said. “And to be able to share the Word of God with them is extremely important.”
Peruvian children delight in receiving a gift-filled shoebox from Edward Graham.
Elipas hopes that the Lord will continue to guide his steps as he serves his hometown. He said, “God has been using me here, I just tell Him, ‘Here I am.’”
Please pray for Elipas, Kelly, and Pastor Elfren as they minister to the people of Lima. Pray that God gives them wisdom and strength as they lead by example and continue passing the torch of the Good News of Jesus Christ to the next generation.
A boy appreciates the letter and photo inside his shoebox gift that personalized it just for him.
