Operation Christmas Child, a new twist

Chuck Mccurry
chuck1946@hotmail.com
Posted 10/31/18

Many of you have heard about Operation Christmas Child.

It was started in 1993 by Rev. Billy Graham’s son, Franklin Graham.

Since then, thousands of churches have sent 135 million shoe …

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Operation Christmas Child, a new twist

Posted

Many of you have heard about Operation Christmas Child.
It was started in 1993 by Rev. Billy Graham’s son, Franklin Graham.
Since then, thousands of churches have sent 135 million shoe boxes filled with gifts and personal items to children in 150 countries. 
This year, we are fortunate to have an Operation Christmas Child spokesperson right here in Lexington.
Gina Paredes is a Spanish teacher at Pleasant Hill Elementary and a member of Saxe Gotha Presbyterian. 
She grew up during a civil war in Colombia, SA, in a country controlled by drug lords. She and her mother moved to a safer area where they became involved in a church. 
Gina eventually went to work as the children’s minister at Centro de Vida a Las Naciones Church. 
She always had a heart for children in desperate situations, but lacked the resources to teach them about Jesus. This all changed when she got a brochure about Operation Christmas Child and applied for 200 shoe boxes.
The shoe boxes arrived shortly after, and they received discipleship books and training materials. Gina was thrilled to finally have the “tools to reach and teach children.” 
Gina says one of the most fulfilling parts of this program is “to see an impoverished child get the boxes and start learning about Jesus.” During the past 9 years, over 6.9 million kids have received shoe boxes and discipleship training and now follow Christ.
This year, Operation Christmas Child has selected Gina as one of the national spokespeople. She is working closely with leaders at Saxe Gotha to organize the packing party for over 500 boxes on November 11. 
Saxe Gotha members and people from our community donate toys, books, school supplies and personal items to fill the boxes. Even the shipping costs are covered by local monetary donations. 
This event is such a fun time of fellowship for all – the youngest children to senior adults all take part. They gather around tables piled high with items and add personal notes and drawings to the boxes after they are filled. 
Then the boxes are prayed over, and everyone gathers in the auditorium to sing carols. This night is not just a blessing for those receiving the boxes – the packers also leave knowing they have helped spread the love of Jesus. 
To participate in the Packing Party, come to the Saxe Gotha Light House (the building at the back of the campus) at 6 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 11. To make donations, please contact the church office at 803-359-7770.
Do you have a ministry you would like to tell me about? Contact me at 803-348-0243 or chuck1946@hotmail.com

church buzz, operation christmas child, Gina Paredes

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