BY DAN HILDEBRAN
The central drop-off team leader for Operation Christmas Child at Trinity Baptist Church in Keystone Heights said the number of gift boxes collected this year will likely exceed that of 2024.
Operation Christmas Child is a project of Samaritan’s Purse, an international Christian relief organization, that collects shoeboxes filled with gifts for children around the world.
Diane Michel oversees a collection hub for the region, with churches and groups from surrounding areas contributing shoeboxes that will be shipped overseas to children in need.
National Collection Week for the ministry was from November 17 through 24. On Thursday, November 20, Michel said the first two days of the week were busy, but traffic tapered off over the next two days.
“We were extremely busy, Monday and Tuesday, and Wednesday was steady,” Michel said. “Today is a slower day related to shoe boxes coming in. We’ve got a couple of churches this morning.”
Michel said the operation hasn’t changed much from previous years, with one exception.
“The only thing that’s changed related to shoe boxes is you can no longer put bar soap in the boxes,” she said.
The change is related to customs regulations.
She also said this year’s boxes are slightly larger, with more room for gifts.
Church dedicates gift boxes for children overseas
BY DIANE MICHEL
Operation Christmas Child
Trinity Baptist Church held its annual Shoebox Dedication Sunday for Operation Christmas Child during the church’s Nov. 16 morning services. This tradition started in 2007.
Operation Christmas Child is a worldwide ministry through Samaritan’s Purse. Shoebox gifts are packed with small toys, school supplies and hygiene items for poor children around the world in over 170 countries. Since 1993, more than 232 million children have received these gifts.
During the dedication services at Trinity, smiling children entered the church in a parade. A few children were dressed in large carton shoeboxes. Two had large frames advertising “What goes in the box is fun” and “What comes out is eternal.” It is a mystery who was inside the big Christmas tree. Toddlers were pulled in wagons. Everyone carried in a precious shoebox gift.
The congregation sang “God so loved the world” as the children came in. Photos of Operation Christmas Child activities and their very own shoebox recipients scrolled on a screen inside the auditorium. Senior Pastor Brandon Denmark prayed over the shoebox treasures.
