In the summer of 1993, Samaritan’s Purse President Franklin Graham received a call from a man in England asking if he’d be willing to fill shoeboxes with gifts for children in war-torn Bosnia. Franklin agreed but figured Christmas was months away. He forgot about the promise until he received a call back around Thanksgiving asking about the gifts. Franklin asked his friend, the late Pastor Ross Rhoads of Calvary Church of Charlotte to see if he could help with the need. A Sunday shortly afterward, Pastor Rhoads demonstrated to his congregation how to fill a shoebox with simple gifts and encouraged them to include a letter to the child as well. Within weeks, the church had 11,000 shoeboxes lining their hallways. Due to their generosity and additional gifts from Canada, Samaritan’s Purse sent 28,000 shoebox gifts to children in the Balkans that Christmas. As they say, the rest is history. Each year millions of shoeboxes are packed, transported, and delivered around the globe for kids at Christmas. Through these gifts, we communicated to children and their families what the angel said to the shepherds about Jesus’ birth: “I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.” (Luke 2:10, ESV).

Operation Christmas Child

Tabernacle Baptist Church supports and actively participates in Samaritan’s Purse, Operation Christmas Child.  Through the collection and delivery of gift-filled shoeboxes to children around the world, Operation Christmas Child is able to demonstrate God’s love in a tangible way. With these once-in-a-lifetime gifts, we believe it has the power to teach children how to follow Christ and share the good news with others.  As they do, families and communities are transformed by the power of the Gospel.  

Tabernacle Baptist considers this ministry one of the best opportunities to touch and share the Gospel with children around the world.  Visit the OCC website for additional information and ministry opportunities. 

“Every shoebox gift is an opportunity to reach a child with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It’s about telling children around the world and their families that God loves them. He hasn’t forgotten them. We’re taking the Good News to the ends of the earth and doing it through a shoebox.”

—Franklin Graham, President of Samaritan’s Purse

Want to know more?

Ask Sara Whitaker (WMU Leader) for more information

We are currently working on NEW and Exciting ways to collect for this Mission. Keep an eye out for more updates to come!!!!