An Operation Christmas Child outreach event in a village known for its spiritual resistance brings a remarkable harvest of souls.
Ambodibibaka is so remote you can’t even find it on most maps. The village is nestled in the forests of eastern Madagascar where its residents long held to ancestral worship and traditions—until Samaritan’s Purse teams recently brought the Gospel of Jesus Christ to children and their families. Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts opened the door and, today, classes of La Gran Aventura follow-up discipleship course have started with hopes of giving a new spiritual heritage to generations of Ambodibibaka residents!
Churches nearby had previously attempted to bring the Good News to Ambodibibaka but were threatened repeatedly.
It appeared darkness had won. But God was not finished with Ambodibibaka!
The fun, full, and personalized shoebox gifts the children received softened their hearts to the message of God’s love.
Trying Again
An Operational Christmas Child regional leadership team (RLT) in Madagascar’s northeastern area of Analanjirofo felt called to bring shoebox gifts and the Gospel to hard places—places that had never heard of Jesus Christ and showed no interest in Him. In faith, the RLT, comprised of dedicated volunteers, began to pray, inviting churches to join them in their vision of reaching even Ambodibibaka with the Gospel.
But they, too, met resistance.
“I don’t want you to be disappointed, but nothing organized for Ambodibibaka has ever succeeded,” said a deputy mayor. Another official added, “I can’t authorize an event there. But if you’re brave enough, go on your own.”
Undeterred, the team continued to press forward.
Carrying Gospel Opportunities
Through prayer and persistence, the Operation Christmas Child volunteers reached out to the leaders of Ambodibibaka with a message of tangible love: “We want to bless your children. We want to give each child a gift.”
Suddenly, the village leaders were interested!
Mothers and fathers who once resisted the Good News volunteered to carry boxes of “Gospel opportunities” for six hours to bring them to their children in Ambodibibaka.
The parents also agreed to let the RLT come and volunteered to walk six hours to help carry the cartons of shoebox gifts to Ambodibibaka. Mothers and fathers who once rejected the Good News were carrying the very boxes considered “Gospel opportunities” in their own hands!
Bringing Joy and Hope
Next came the day no one thought could happen: our team hosted an Operation Christmas Child outreach event for more than 1,400 children. Interested parents and extended family members gathered around for the child-friendly festivities. For the first time, the village of Ambodibibaka heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ clearly presented!
More than 1,400 boys and girls gathered for the Operation Christmas Child outreach event in Ambodibibaka—a day many thought would never come.
Moved by this message of hope, child after child as well as numerous onlookers raised their hands indicating that they wanted to accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior! Roughly 1,500 residents of Ambodibibaka made that life-changing decision that day.
Boys and girls were then surprised as they received their very own Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts—brimming with fun, new items from overseas! Along with their own shoebox, each child was given a copy of El Mejor Regalo booklet. This resource contains 11 Scripture stories that share the Gospel in a format they could return to again and again as well as share with others.
Children and interested family members wait in expectation before the Gospel of Jesus Christ is presented at the outreach event.
Joy and celebration now radiate from Ambodibibaka!
Today, trained volunteers from nearby churches are leading our 12-lesson follow-up discipleship class, La Gran Aventura, for shoebox recipients. Through dynamic Bible stories and an interactive student workbook, the children of Ambodibibaka are learning how to know, grow in, and share Jesus with friends and family.
We praise God that a place that once said no to the Gospel has said yes to eternal salvation through Jesus Christ!
“O LORD, God of our fathers, are you not God in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. In your hand are power and might, so that none is able to withstand you” (2 Chronicles 20:6).
Pray that the Gospel of Jesus Christ would spread from Ambodibibaka to other people throughout the forests of eastern Madagascar.
