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Shoebox Missionaries

by | Feb 27, 2019 | Jesus, Faith and Prayer

Teddy bears and one missionary to go.

Organizing a Shoebox Collection

A family of our small congregation became missionaries and never left their home. They began in January by spearheading an Operation Christmas Child monthly collection of items to include in shoeboxes that would be assembled during a shoe box packing party at church in November.Each month the collection box features a suggested item to purchase.

Items to include in sewing kits for youth.
  • January—washcloths
  • February—soap
  • March—toothbrushes
  • April—combs and hairbrushes
  • May—games and puzzles
  • June—backpacks, soccer balls & pumps
  • July—t-shirts, flip-flops, sunglasses, summer stuff
  • August—school supplies go on sale
  • September—toys
  • October—toys

Recycling for Operation Christmas Child

My favorite project is to recycle prescription bottles as sewing kits. I fill the bottles with buttons, needles & needle-threaders, thread, and safety pins and apply an Operation Christmas Child sticker label on the bottle.

Each box is a missionary packed in love.

History of Operation Christmas Child

Operation Christmas Child was started in the United Kingdom in 1990 by Dave and Jill Cooke. Three years after this beginning, the Wales-based shoebox gift project merged in a partnership with Samaritan’s Purse. Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child has delivered gift-filled shoeboxes to over 146 million children in more than 100 countries.

From children to seniors, people pack shoebox gifts each year to bless children in need around the world. Parents often use the project to teach their kids about giving. It is better to give than to receive!CollageCancelPublish Changes

Samaritan’s Purse provides local partners around the world with shoeboxes filled with small toys, hygiene items, and school supplies as a means of reaching out to children in their own communities with the Good News of Jesus Christ. These simple gifts go to children affected by war, poverty, natural disaster, famine, and disease; and to children living on Native American reservations in the U.S.

Evangelistic Program

After receiving shoe box gifts, many boys and girls are invited to enroll in The Greatest Journey, a 12-lesson discipleship program. Local ministry partners are able to establish long-term, caring relationships with children and families by sharing the love of Jesus Christ. This Gospel booklet available in more than 75 languages is given out with shoebox gifts around the world. With the Apostle John as narrator, the booklet shares 11 Scripture stories and invites children to follow Christ.

Packing Party

Our missionary family, who are the youth group leaders, store the collection of gifts in a room at their home, and in the garage, and sometimes the overflow goes to the barn. In November all the items show up at church to be assembled in the shoeboxes during our annual “Packing Party.” We have a pot-bless breakfast, and everyone, young and old, starts packing boxes for boys and girls around the world. Pastor says it’s his favorite Missionary Sunday. Last year our small church sent 752 boxes. Our goal this year is a thousand.