In many parts of Togo to be born blind is to be born cursed. Families and communities superstitiously fear the disability. Annani, who is visually impaired rather than totally blind, was nevertheless rejected by his father and scorned by teachers and classmates. In the latter case, he was shamed because he couldn’t see the blackboard…
Operation Christmas Child
Edward Graham Joins Celebration for New Church in the Mountains of Mexico
La Laguna village in remote Mexico, home to the Nahuatl people, was once unreached with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. No one in the mountain community had ever heard the name of Jesus. No one had ever been told that God loves them or how they could have a personal relationship with the Living Savior.…
Operation Christmas Child
A Boy Called Marvellous
Marvellous ran for his life when gunfire erupted. He and his family were trying to flee their homeland in Central Africa where Christians were being persecuted for their faith. As they boarded a crowded bus together, the family heard the gunfire. Running in the opposite direction than his family, the then 6-year-old—and youngest of four…
Operation Christmas Child
Press Release Operation Christmas Child July 07-28-21
Giving Multiplied with Back-to-School Sales BOONE, N.C., July 28, 2021—As the new school year approaches, Operation Christmas Child shoebox packers are making use of back-to-school prices to purchase gifts and essential items for children in need overseas. Participants are collecting school supplies, along with hygiene items and fun toys, to pack in shoeboxes. Samaritan's Purse will…
Operation Christmas Child
Roselyn and a Picture Book
Roselyn and a Picture Book "My life felt gray. But when my shoebox came, it was full of color." Growing up in Malawi, I loved playing make-believe. That’s what my siblings and I did because we didn’t have any dolls or toys. We would go outside after it rained and mold the clay-type soil into…
Operation Christmas Child
Press Release Operation Christmas Child January 01-25-23
Samaritan's Purse Celebrates Nearly 10.6 Million Shoebox Gifts Collected for Children in Need BOONE, N.C., Jan. 25, 2023—Millions of shoebox packers shared the true meaning of Christmas with children in need this past holiday season. Generosity throughout contributed to a successful shoebox gift collection season at drop-off locations for the Samaritan's Purse project Operation Christmas…
Operation Christmas Child
30 Years of OCC
Praising God for 30 Years of Operation Christmas Child Since 1993, God has used Samaritan’s Purse to deliver over 200 million Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts to children in need and disciple 50 million of these boys and girls. When Franklin Graham agreed to fill shoeboxes with toys and other fun items for children in war-torn…
Operation Christmas Child
Taking the Gospel the Extra Mile in Cambodia
Just outside of a major tourist city in Cambodia, people struggle to make ends meet. Makara* and her family live in a one-room house, on a tract of land shared by many other members of their family who work in the nearby fields. Makara was hard at work last year when her daughter, Tola*, attended…
Operation Christmas Child
Official Shoebox Gift Suggestions
What Goes in My Shoebox? Make Your Gift Fun, Full, and Personalized. For children around the world, a shoebox is often their very first gift. Given together with the Good News of Jesus Christ, it communicates God’s love to a boy or girl in need. So, it is important to make sure your gift is…
Operation Christmas Child
Children in Botswana Learn About God’s Love Through Shoebox Gifts
For children living in Molepolole, Botswana, receiving gifts is rare, so when Anitah attended a church outreach event she wasn’t expecting the wonderful surprise that awaited her. She experienced God’s love when she received an Operation Christmas Child shoebox gift from a family on the other side of the world. The free gifts in her…
