Operation Christmas Child
Lincolnton Methodist Church has participated in this outreach mission since 2010. Sponsored by Samaritan's purse, we pack shoeboxes with essential items and toys to send around the world. The mission of Operation Christmas Child is to demonstrate God's love in a tangible way to children in need around the world.
Through this project, Samaritan's Purse partners with the local church worldwide to share the Good News of Jesus Christ and make disciples of the nations. More information can be found at https://www.samaritanspurse.org/operation-christmas-child/
Where do Shoeboxes Go?
Our Story
In 2023, LMC packed 220 shoeboxes which brings the total for our church to over 2,000 boxes since 2010!
Our congregation’s support allows this ministry to grow every year as an important part of our missions & outreach program. In 2023, our boxes were sent to children in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Ivory Coast, and a Hard-to-Reach area.
Cote d'Ivoire
Located in West Africa, the Ivory Coast is a significant exporter of cocoa beans. Otherwise known as Cote d'Ivoire, the nation’s tropical rainforests include African mahogany and teak. Samaritan’s Purse began delivering Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts to children here in 2000 and a year later, we began offering The Greatest Journey, our follow-up discipleship program, to these shoebox recipients. .
Democratic republic of congo
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is the largest nation in Central Africa. It has significant mineral resources and plenty of fertile soil, but malnutrition remains a challenge for the country. Samaritan’s Purse began delivering Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts to children here in 2003. In addition, we started offering The Greatest Journey, our follow-up discipleship course for shoebox recipients, in the DRC in 2010.
We are also honored that our shoeboxes were selected for the special purpose of going to hard-to-reach areas. Such regions are difficult to access due to customs, cultural, or religious reasons, but these gift-filled shoeboxes give local believers a sensitive way to initiate ongoing relationships with those who may not now Christ. The box helps equip Christian brothers and sisters to take great risks to advance the Gospel of Jeuss Christ. Since 1993, Samaritan's Purse has delievered shoebox gifts to more than 70 hard-to-reach-countries.
We collect items for the shoe boxes year-round so we can fill boxes with as much joy and purpose possible! We include toys, comfort gifts, fun fillers, school supplies, hygiene supplies, first aid kits, sewing and fishing kits. We also bless the boxes by including personal notes from the children who participate in Club Christ, our monthly children's ministry. Then we pray for each recipient during our Shoebox Dedication Sunday.
Our goal for 2024 is 240 boxes! Please help us get the items we need to fill the boxes by going to our Amazon wishlist. Amazon Gift List