In the summer of 1993, Samaritan’s Purse President Franklin Graham received a call from a man in England asking if he’d be willing to fill shoeboxes with gifts for children in Eastern Europe. Franklin agreed but forgot about the promise because Christmas was months away …until he received a call back around Thanksgiving asking about the gifts.
Franklin asked his friend, the late Pastor Ross Rhoads of Calvary Church of Charlotte to see if he could help with the need. A Sunday shortly afterward, Pastor Rhoads demonstrated for his congregation how to fill a shoebox with simple gifts and encouraged them to include a letter to the child as well. Within weeks, the church had 11,000 shoeboxes lining their hallways.
Due to their generosity and additional gifts from Canada, Samaritan’s Purse sent 28,000 shoebox gifts to children in the Balkans that Christmas.
Through these gifts, we communicated to children and their families what the angel said to the shepherds about Jesus’ birth: “I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people”
(Luke 2:10, ESV).
Every year since, Samaritan’s Purse has collected shoebox gifts filled with toys, school supplies, and hygiene items for children around the world. Since 1993, more than 209 million children in more than 170 countries and territories have received an Operation Christmas Child shoebox.
The mission of Operation Christmas Child is to demonstrate God’s love in a tangible way to children in need around the world.
The project delivers not only the joy of what, for many kids, is their first gift ever
Through this project, Samaritan’s Purse partners with the local church worldwide to distribute the shoebox gifts and share the Good News of Jesus Christ and make disciples of the nations.
South Louisville Baptist Church invites you to be a part of this life-changing ministry by packing a box for a Boy or Girl, age 2-4, 5-9, or 10-14.
Items to include:
hygiene items (no toothpaste or liquids)
School supplies
An age- appropriate toy or stuffed animal
Please do not include anything, breakable, edible, or war related as these items will not pass through customs in many countries.
This is a wonderful way family activity to teach children about missions and the joy in giving.
We are serving as a drop off location for shoebox gifts.
Please bring your shoebox gifts on
Friday from 11-1
Saturday from 10-12
Sunday from 12-4
Contact Dinah Smith for more information. 662-803-9804.
