Mark Datson is the Operation Christmas Child Regional Director for the Baltics, Balkans, and Central Europe. “… in mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God, so that from Jerusalem and round about to Illyricum [in present-day Albania] I have fully preached the gospel of Christ” (Romans 15:19, NKJV). Today, Operation…
Operation Christmas Child
#ShoeboxStories: Désiré and The Yo-Yo
ShoeboxStories #shoeboxstories is an ongoing series in which shoebox recipients share about the eternal impact of a simple gift. Désiré -and- The Yo-yo God used a simple light-up yo-yo to remind me of His love. I remember walking every day to school when I was young. Most of the time I went without any lunch…
Operation Christmas Child
Graham Family Participates in Operation Christmas Child Pacific Push
Franklin Graham presented a bold vision to the Operation Christmas Child team late last year (2018): Deliver gift-filled shoeboxes in Jesus’ Name to every child on 1,000 Pacific islands—more than half a million kids. He believed those island nations and the children who live on them had been forgotten, but he was determined that would…
Operation Christmas Child
Samaritan’s Purse Releases Free Kids’ Bible Game App
Samaritan’s Purse Releases Free Kids’ Bible Game App BOONE, N.C., Jan. 28, 2020 Christian parents now have a new resource to help their kids learn about the Bible based on a discipleship program that’s already leading millions of children to Christ all over the world. Samaritan’s Purse has released a mobile app, called Greatest Journey, that lets kids…
Operation Christmas Child
Christian Leaders in Guam Are Excited About Operation Christmas Child
Guam, the westernmost territory of the United States, is a rich blend of various cultures. Located in the north Pacific—about 1,500 miles east of the Philippines—Guam’s 168,000 citizens include the island’s native Chamorros, along with a melting-pot population from the Philippines, Japan, South Korea, Russia, Australia, the mainland U.S., Europe, and various other Micronesian islands.…
Operation Christmas Child
Children in Madagascar Hear the Gospel for the First Time
Pastor Soja knew that there were two words the Bara people group never wanted to hear: “Jesus” and “prayer.” Made up of more than a million people, this ethnic group inhabits southern Madagascar, the island nation off the east coast of Africa. Cattle rustlers by trade, they marked themselves by thievery, violence, and isolation. Fifteen…
Franklin Graham
Newsletter December 2024
Franklin Graham Update | December Franklin Graham Update | December 'From Devastation To Celebration' Dear Friend, As Christmas approaches, we continue to see so much need all around us. Our disaster relief teams have served thousands of storm-stricken families. Meanwhile, we've been collecting and shipping Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts to millions of children worldwide. Hurricane Helene brought out the best in our…
Operation Christmas Child
Scaling Mountains with Shoebox Gifts and the Gospel
The steep footpath that ran alongside the cliff had become a trail of slimy, unrelenting mud. But it was the only way to reach a Filipino community nestled in the mountain forest—a nearly 35-mile walk from the nearest town. Undaunted by the conditions, Pastor Jacob*, together with his wife, daughter, and a small ministry team,…
Operation Christmas Child
Trail Life USA & Operation Christmas Child
Connect Your Troop to Operation Christmas Child National Collection Week Some of the best outdoor adventures require an investment. The more you give of yourself, the greater the reward. Jesus defined greatness in a related way: “He who is greatest among you shall be your servant” (Matthew 23:11 NKJV). The Trail Life calls for servant…
Operation Christmas Child
Gospel Light Drives Away the Darkness for a Boy and His Father in Togo
Tchao Beleyi used to be haunted by nightmares of people chasing him down to beat him. “When I would sleep, in my dreams, I would see people following me, pursuing me,” he said. His 9-year-old son Kevin was also troubled. “He used to steal money from us,” Tchao said. “If he saw money lying around,…
