FBC continues its global reach through Operation Christmas Child
After sharing the story of the Good Samaritan through a parable in the tenth chapter of the New Testament book of Luke, Jesus issued the command to “Go and do likewise,” and that command has become the mission of the nationwide organization, Samaritan's Purse.
The organization’s stated aim is to follow the example of Christ by helping those in need and proclaiming the hope of the Gospel. And one of the ways they are doing that is through their Operation Christmas Child ministry and one Indianola church is among those aiding in that effort.
On Monday, members of First Baptist Church of Indianola, along with other volunteers, loaded trailers with boxes of shoebox gifts to be distributed through the Operation Christmas Child program to disadvantaged children abroad.
The mission of Operation Christmas Child is to show God’s love in a tangible way to children in need around the world and provide an opportunity for them to come to know Christ in the process. Last year the organization reportedly reached 9.5 million children.
FBC project leader Teresa Spealman, who has served in that position since 2002, said this year’s worldwide goal is 11 million gifts and FBC has collected more than 300 boxes towards that effort. Spealman said, “Our drop-off center collected 1,898.
This is area churches and individuals.”
FBC is also serving as a central hub for the other four Delta drop-off centers that will also bring their donations to First Baptist. “Our central collection collected 5,553 (boxes) this is the four area dropoff centers bringing their boxes to meet the truck going to Atlanta,” she added.
Once all of the boxes are collected and loaded, the precious cargo will head to Atlanta and from there to nearly 150 different countries. "Every time somebody brings their boxes in, we check them in, pack them in the boxes and then we have prayer with them (the person) before they leave," Spealman said.
The individual boxes include toys, school items and more. They also include a copy of the book “The Greatest Journey” that is a 12-lesson course, which includes Bible stories and Scripture. Spealman said, "They will receive these gifts and they will have the opportunity to come to know the Lord through this ministry."
According to Mississippi Delta Area Coordinator Melissa Elliott, the boxes are distributed to children in places such as Chad, Malawi, the Philippines, Asia, Germany and the Ukraine, just to name a few.
Elliott, who is a year-round volunteer with Samaritan’s Purse said, "It's a great mission and ministry to work for. Our training is like Bible study and it's faith and prayer from day one."
They have already begun planning for next year. So, any church or organization that would like to know more about how it can help and be a part of the ministry can contact Elliott, or Spealman at 662-207-3800 or the First Baptist Church of Indianola.
FBC has been involved with the shoebox ministry since 2000 and has served as a drop off point for the last five or six years.
You can also go to the Samaritan's Purse website—samaritanspurse.org— or the Mississippi Delta Shoebox Packers Facebook page to get additional information and instructions on how to prepare the boxes.
Samaritan’s Purse has been around for over 40 years putting forth an effort to follow Christ’s command by going to the aid of the world’s poor, sick, and suffering. According to its website, it is a nondenominational evangelical Christian organization providing spiritual and physical aid to hurting people around the world.
Since 1970, Samaritan’s Purse has helped meet the needs of people who are victims of war, poverty, natural disasters, disease, and famine with the purpose of sharing God’s love through His Son, Jesus Christ. The organization serves the church worldwide to promote the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.
