Pacific Islands Initiative Press Kit

An Operation Christmas Child initiative is bringing the Good News of Jesus Christ to isolated island nations. The goal of the five-year Pacific Island Initiative is for all children ages 2–14 across the Pacific to have the opportunity to hear the Gospel and receive an Operation Christmas Child shoebox gift at an Outreach Event hosted by a local church Ministry Partner. At this Outreach Event they will also be invited back to the local church for follow-up discipleship using The Greatest Journey. The desire is for the children and people living on these small remote islands to know that God loves them, and they are not forgotten.

Articles & Stories

  • Children on Remote Pacific Islands Respond to the Gospel

    A new Operation Christmas Child initiative is bringing the Good News of Jesus Christ to isolated island nations.

  • Operation Christmas Child Blesses Typhoon Survivors on Saipan

    Outreach events on the small Pacific island spread God’s love to children and families.

  • Graham Family Participates in Operation Christmas Child Pacific Push

    Franklin and Jane Graham and their son Edward were recently on Tarawa to give out gift-filled shoeboxes to children in need.

Fact Sheets

Approved Quotes

  • Franklin Graham

    “I want to take a thousand islands in the next five years and reach these islands for Christ,” said Franklin Graham, president of Samaritan’s Purse. “Here in the Pacific, people have very little hope. These are poor areas. People don’t comehere. There are no tourists here. But we are going to be here. We are going island to island to island taking the Gospel of Jesus Christ.”

  • Edward Graham

    “When Dad went to visit there(after Typhoon Yutu) and saw the carnageand island life in the Pacific, he realized they needed the hope of Jesus Christ and thought Operation Christmas Child had the right resources to be able to tackle the problem,” said Edward Graham, son of Samaritan's Purse President Franklin Graham. “It is a huge challenge. It goes back to Bob Pierce (the founder of Samaritan's Purse) and the God-room principle. You plan so boldly and so big that it's sure to fail without God intervening. Dad's vision was just that.”

  • Jim Harrelson

    “In Acts chapter 1, Jesus gives us the Great Commissionto be His witnesses and to go to the ends of the earth, and we're a part of that,” said Jim Harrelson, vice president of Operation Christmas Child. “Being here in Tarawa just reminds us all what a privilege and opportunity it truly is to be a part of thisworldwide movement. We're fulfilling Scripture and that's powerful.”

  • Tyler Mahaffey

    “It’s exciting that we had people pouring into the local church,” said Tyler Mahaffey, Operation Christmas Child’s regional manager for the Pacific, of an outreach event in Tarawa. “We barely had space to seat all the kids and parents were cramming in to hear the Good News. We’re thankful for the opportunity to see the church overflowing.”

  • Katie Suderno

    “It’s not just a shoebox,” said Marshall Islands resident Katie Suderno. “We’re talking about souls being saved, communities changing, and, in our case, an entire island being impacted for the Lord.”

B-Roll

These videos are available for news media outlet use in coverage of Samaritan's Purse-related stories. If your news outlet uses a b-roll reel or video, please credit: “Courtesy of Samaritan's Purse.” These videos are not for commercial use.
  • Scenic Shots

  • Shoebox Gift Transportation

  • Outreach Event

Photos

These photographs are available for news media outlet use in coverage of Samaritan's Purse-related stories. If your news outlet uses a photograph, please credit: “Courtesy of Samaritan’s Purse.” These photographs are not for commercial use.
  • SaipanA girl in Saipan shows off the treasures she just received in her Operation Christmas Child shoebox gift. Download
  • SaipanPhoto Caption Download
  • SaipanWren (right) helped with the Gospel presentation during the shoebox distribution at Cornerstone Church. Download
  • SaipanGift-filled shoeboxes are tangible expressions of God’s love to children in Saipan and around the world. Download
  • SaipanEden (left) was excited to receive the gifts in her shoebox. Download
  • KiribatiSamaritan’s Purse President Franklin Graham handed out Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts in Kiribati. Download
  • KiribatiJane Graham, wife of Samaritan’s Purse President Franklin Graham,delivers gifts during an outreach event on the Pacific island of Tarawa. Download
  • KiribatiEdward Graham, son of Samaritan's Purse President Franklin Graham, also joined recent efforts in reaching the Pacific islands through Operation Christmas Child. Download
  • KiribatiChildren are excited to show off their shoebox gifts during a well-attended outreach event. Download
  • KiribatiShoebox gifts meet grateful hearts in Tarawa where local churches are busy reaching communities through Operation Christmas Child. Download
  • KiribatiSamaritan's Purse President Franklin Graham meets one of many grateful children on Tarawa during his visit to Kiribati. As part of a new initiative, Operation Christmas Child is focused on reaching the children of 1,000 Pacific islands. Download
  • KiribatiChildren gather to celebrate the new gifts they've received. These boys and girls not only received special presents but also an opportunity to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Download
  • KiribatiStudents in The Greatest Journey discipleship classes learn about God's story through Scripture and His offer of salvation through the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Download
  • KiribatiA girl shows her sister the shoebox gift she received during the outreach event in her village. Download
  • KiribatiEdward Graham, son of Samaritan’s Purse President Franklin Graham,helps distribute shoebox gifts during an outreach event to local villages. Download
  • KiribatiEdward Graham and Pastor Maerere celebrate after a wonderful distribution on Tarawa. Download
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