The Message of Operation Christmas Child

I read in the newspaper where over 1 million shoe boxes, filled with toys, school supplies, and games, were filled and being sent around the world to needy children. The organization boasts the title of the "Largest Christmas gift exchange." My son was a missionary in Venezuela when he saw the boxes delivered to the children there. The month wasn't December, but March. My son said seeing the kids excitement was priceless. My thoughts though, is giving toys, book supplies, and games the best way to spread the Gospel. Reading the newspaper article, I never read the name Jesus at all.

I went investigating by clicking on the Samaritan's Purse website: samaritanspurse.org. This organization is a whole lot deeper than I realized with many life-changing ministries. First, they have a ministry called, "Turn on the Tap Water" ministry where they are able to help villages with well digging or irrigation systems. They help the 1 in 8 people in the world who do not have access to water.

Second, they have doctor's performing life-changing operations such as correcting cleft lips. This may not sound important, but people are often shunned in their villages with this disease. And children with this are often left to die because the parents are told they are cursed. Third, another ministry is the food distribution where refugee camps are either dropped food or given food by DC-10 landing on dirt-type airstrips. These refugees are isolated because of a country's political or religious beliefs. They are always moving, if food is unavailable.
And last, is their ministry in Mangolia. The boxes are handed out with booklets in them called, "The Greatest Journey." One 14-year old girl testified how she learned about Jesus through the booklets in the box she received. She began going to a small church there where she participated in a 12 lesson discipleship. At the end of the program, she received a certificate and her own Bible. Another young boy of about the same age who has to shepherd his family's heep and cattle testified how he learned of Jesus through one of the boxes. He also read the booklet while shepherding. He also talks of how his father reads the Bible to him.
If all of what their website says is true, I believe The Samaritan's Purse to be the kind of organization that best reflects how effective in saving the world spiritually and physically our churches should be more like.