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Operation Christmas Child
Lincolnton Methodist Church has participated in this outreach mission since 2010 sending 2,598 boxes around the world (including the 252 we packed in 2025!)
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/
Continue reading below to see where our boxes are going in 2025!
Where do Shoeboxes Go?
2025 Destinations
As of 12/4/2025, our boxes have begun their journey around the world.
Please don’t stop praying for the boy or girl that you first lifted up when we packed our shoeboxes.
- Continue to ask God to soften his or her heart to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, so that he or she will follow Him all the days of their life.
- Pray also for families and entire communities to be transformed as God’s love is shared through this simple gift.
Our Story
In 2025, LMC packed 252 shoeboxes which brings the total for our church to over 2,598 boxes since 2010!
Our congregation’s support allows this ministry to grow every year as an important part of our missions & outreach program.
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It is the second largest country in Europe after Russia and is known for its agricultural production. Samaritan’s Purse began distributing gift-filled shoeboxes there in 1996 and launched The Greatest Journey, our follow-up discipleship program, in this nation in 2010.
Samaritan’s Purse has also been actively providing food, clean water, and medical care the people of Ukraine since conflict broke out in February 2022. Much of this relief is being carried out together with our network of Operation Christmas Child partner churches. Praise God that we continue to host outreach events for children here and pray with us that the fighting will end soon. Read the latest updates about our work in this war-torn nation.
Sierra Leone is located on the coast of West Africa, next to Liberia and Guinea. In addition to being a gold, diamond, and bauxite mining hub, it is also rich with wildlife. Hippopotamuses and crocodiles (including rare miniature versions of these species) reside in its rivers together with manatees. Large game such as elephants, lions, and buffaloes, however, have been hunted off so that now they only reside in the country’s game preserves. Samaritan’s Purse began distributing Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts here in 1997, and today, roughly 40 percent of the population is of shoebox-receiving age. Since 2011, The Greatest Journey follow-up discipleship course has been offered to boys and girls in this nation. Samaritan’s Purse also worked extensively in Sierra Leone and its neighboring countries during the Ebola outbreak of 2014.
A sensitive Country in West Africa
You will bless a child living in this hard to reach area
We are honored when our shoeboxes are 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.
Want to help?
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.