Operation Christmas Child (OCC)
Operation Christmas Child operates under the banner of Samaritan’s Purse. Each year, in November, churches are encouraged to pack special Christmas boxes for children in remote places throughout the world. Church members, from children to seniors, pack shoebox gifts to bless children in need around the world. Some of the boxes end up in the hands of children who have never received a gift before.
The goal of Operation Christmas Child isn’t simply to make children happy at Christmas by providing them with gift boxes. The primary focus is to make sure children hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Samaritan’s Purse provides the link between our local church packing boxes and other workers who make sure our boxes are delivered to children somewhere in the world. In addition, they make sure the children and their parents hear about Jesus, the greatest Gift ever given.
For the past three years, the good people at McCullers purchased gifts and packed more than 200 Christmas boxes per year. This special mission project is a highlight on our church calendar. Each box is packed with excitement, packed with love, and gifts, and sent with faith so that people would hear the Gospel and come to know Jesus as their Savior. MCBC has no control over where our boxes are shipped, but we do get word of where many of them are delivered.
Soon and very soon, we will begin to lay plans for this special event. People will begin to purchase gifts for their boxes and we will lay plans for a giant OCC gift box packing party. The fellowship we share surrounding this ministry is palpable. If you have a heart for ministry to children and a desire to see God’s Kingdom grow, come and join us.
You can learn more about this wonderful ministry at: https://www.samaritanspurse.org/what-we-do/operation-christmas-child/