Franklin Graham reports that in 2021, Samaritan’s Purse declared God’s glory in more than 100 countries and territories through Operation Christmas Child—including among many unreached people groups at the very ends of the earth. More than 9.1 million shoebox gifts were distributed to children in need at over 81,000 outreach events!
One of the unreached people groups was located in Gabon, on the central Atlantic coast of Africa. The Baka people live on the margins of society and have typically been outside the reach of the Gospel. All 354 children, and the adult population, turned out for the distribution of OCC boxes. They heard the Gospel for the first time and discovered how much God loved them. Everyone prayed to receive Jesus as their Lord and Savior! The village chief, who confessed Christ as Savior, was so impressed with the event he set aside land for building a church.
In the same report, Franklin Graham shared what God made possible among several unreached people groups. In Burkina Faso, a landlocked country in West Africa, there is a village called Gongonbili, where the Lobi people live. This was considered a “no-go zone” for the Gospel due to violence against outsiders and its open hostility to Christianity. But “with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26) and local leaders allowed shoeboxes to be given out to the area children.
A ministry partner testified, “The parents were delighted that someone had thought of bringing gifts to their children and showed them the love of God. They even asked for prayer for themselves.” He continues, “Today, over 30 adults and 50 children attend a new church that was started in the village. God broke into this no-go zone, and now it’s a go zone for the Gospel!”
Enubirr is a tiny island located between the Philippines and Hawaii. It is part of the Republic of the Marshall Islands and home to just over 1,000 people. The people have no electricity and no airport. Ministry partners used a 57-foot ketch to deliver shoe boxes to the area’s 293 children. After the Gospel was shared, 131 boys and girls responded by inviting Jesus into their hearts!
Over in Palau, a ministry team traveled three hours by boat through rough waters to reach the 15 children who live on the remote island of Kayangel, the country’s northern most state. Just over 50 people call Kayangel home. God is “not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). When the shoeboxes were given out and the Gospel was shared, many of the locals put their faith in Christ. When the shoeboxes were given out and the Gospel was shared, many of the locals put their faith in Christ.
In Bulgaria, where many children dig through trash dumps to find food or items they can sell, the ministry partners decided to meet the children where they were. They made arrangements to give out shoeboxes at a garbage site. Over 40 boys and girls were delighted to receive new toys, hygiene items, and school supplies. They heard the Gospel, and many of them committed their lives to Jesus.
In Montenegro, where only small gatherings were permitted, our ministry partners and volunteers went door-to-door to visit families in their homes. “This gave us an opportunity to build a bridge with the children and their parents,” They were amazed that somebody remembered them during this hard time with the virus and that people from the outside world packed shoeboxes for them.”
Most of the 250 boxes from the McCullers mission effort were sent to Rwanda and Burundi in Africa. What a blessing it is to realize that boxes of God’s love went out to reach children all over the world. God was faithful to make this happen. We had the pleasure to join Him in His work. (Edited from Samaritan Purse 2021 report.)