Operation Christmas Child is an effort by Samaritan's Purse to distribute the gospel message globally to children during the Christmas season. Samaritan's Purse partners with local churches to fill shoeboxes with various donated gifts, hygiene items, and school supplies. The shoeboxes are then distributed by Samaritan's Purse across the globe to children in great need. While the Christmas gifts bring excitement to a child, the gospel message written in a child's own language and made available to them through the shoebox is the emphasis behind Operation Christmas Child. Countless testimonies have come from this effort as children across the globe have been introduced to Jesus Christ and His atoning sacrificial work on the cross on their behalf. 

This year, our Arrow Heights Kids Ministry will have a grade-level contest in their Sunday morning small groups to see which grade (Kindergarten-6th grade) can collect the most shoeboxes by November 23. We will also have empty boxes in the foyer at the Operation Christmas Child table that individuals and families can take and return to the Celebration Room before the November 23 worship service filled with items to be given to a young boy or girl. 

Instructions for how to pack a shoebox and suggestions for shoebox gifts can be found here.