Update (Nov. 4, 2021): Since this article was originally published, Grace Baptist Church of Wild Peach, Texas, has continued to exceed its shoebox-packing goals. In 2020, despite the global outbreak of COVID-19, the church packed 12,617 shoeboxes—117 over their goal. They also saw God’s provision regarding their $9 donation per shoebox gift that year. “We…
Operation Christmas Child
Missouri Volunteer Motivated by Jesus’ Last Words
Springfield area resident fulfills dream to reach children for Christ through Operation Christmas Child. Jill Cobb of Mountain View, Missouri, does what she does because she’s focused on Christ’s final words on earth, which begin: “Go and make disciples of all the nations” (Matthew 28:19, NKJV). She volunteers as an area coordinator for Operation Christmas…
Operation Christmas Child
Why I Pack Shoeboxes: One-Word Witnesses
On social media this fall, Operation Christmas Child asked shoebox packers to pick one word that describes why they send gifts to boys and girls in need around the world. We thought you’d be encouraged to see some of the responses from our volunteers and staff as you prayerfully prepare to fill your own boxes…
Operation Christmas Child
Outsiders Welcomed In
Outsiders. That’s what the Baka people are known as in the Central African nations of Gabon and Cameroon. Members of this unreached people group are relegated to the margins of society and given little access to education or social services. Tragically, in addition to this discrimination, they have virtually no personal access to the Gospel…
Our Ministry
2023 Year-End Impact Report
Thank You Ukraine Response Children's Heart Project U.S. Disaster Relief Operation Christmas Child Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Ukraine Response Our teams evacuated more than 300 people and distributed emergency relief items. Read More Children's Heart Project In 2023, Children's Heart Project facilitated life-saving surgeries for 54 children born with congenital heart defects in Bolivia, Mongolia, and…
Operation Christmas Child
Wheaton College Students Partner with Operation Christmas Child in Ecuador
Students from Wheaton College traveled to Ecuador in December with Operation Christmas Child, coming alongside the local church to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ and joining in the joy as children pealed open their one-of-a-kind shoebox gifts. Samaritan’s Purse has long worked in Ecuador, first delivering gift-filled shoeboxes there in 1997 and in…
Children's Ministries
Children in Crisis
Helping Children in Crisis Around the World Samaritan’s Purse provides education, shelter, daily necessities, loving care, and more to children at risk worldwide. Read and watch stories from Liberia and Vietnam. Millions of boys and girls are living in poverty, facing daily dangers from hunger, violence, and exploitation. That’s why Samaritan's Purse is hard at work in…
Media
Children’s Heart Project Photos
Children's Heart Project 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. United States When they arrive in the city for their surgery, the child, caregiver, and interpreter are hosted,…
Operation Christmas Child
A Family Transformed
Carol used to sleep on the streets because she spent all her money on drugs and alcohol and couldn’t afford rent. Sometimes she didn’t have food for her children. Often, she didn’t even know where they were. Life didn’t improve after she was married. Her husband, Daniel, often came home drunk and wanted nothing to…
Operation Christmas Child
Ohio Farmers Influence their Community and the World by Packing Shoeboxes
Drive down River Styx Road just outside Wadsworth, Ohio, and you’ll come across the “Styx and Stones Farm” sign. Pull in the driveway on any given Saturday morning in the fall, and it will be tough to find a spot to park. On one edge of the driveway sits a barn that’s at least 175…
