God continues to be faithful to use Operation Christmas Child and The Greatest Journey to open doors for Gospel outreach in places that have never heard about the eternal hope of Christ. Boys and girls worldwide are coming to faith in Jesus and sharing the Good News with family and friends. As they do, communities are being transformed by God’s love, and churches are being started.
Thank you for partnering with us, this ministry would not be possible without the thousands of volunteers and church partners who faithfully serve the Lord and are committed to bringing the Gospel to children and families. We are thankful for their dedication to serving in Jesus’ Name and to helping boys and girls experience the peace and joy of Christ.
We thank God for you, and we look forward to joining with you again this year to bring Good News and Great Joy to more children around the world.
Pastor Rick and his team knew it would be tough—physically and spiritually—to reach the remote village they had been lifting up in prayer. To share the Good News of Jesus Christ there, the group had to scale steep mountains, cross rivers full of rocks and stones, and push through dense bamboo and vegetation. Their journey deep into the jungles of the Philippines was hot, tiring, muddy, and slippery.
“It’s a commitment to get here. It’s so hard,” said Mary Ann, a member of the church team. “If you don’t have the desire to share the Gospel—there’s no reason you would decide to come here.”
Pastor Rick’s group spent about a year traveling back and forth to the village at first and saw little spiritual fruit. “We were discouraged and even questioned if we should continue coming here,” he said.
But things began to shift after a shoebox outreach event. “Operation Christmas Child was the turning point in our church’s outreach. It opened doors for us—it changed everything,” Pastor Rick said.
Outreach opportunities continued during The Greatest Journey. Not only were the boys and girls engaged in the Bible lessons, but their mothers started coming, too. Pastor Rick began a Bible class for the mothers while Mary Ann and other teachers led the children through The Greatest Journey.
Noel was among the children who received an Operation Christmas Child shoebox gift and participated in The Greatest Journey discipleship classes. She also attended the church started by Pastor Rick.
“Everything she received in the box made her really, really happy,” Noel’s mother Rosemarie said. “She would put the items in a bag and carry it with her wherever she went.”
Neither Rosemarie nor her young daughter had ever heard the Gospel until Pastor Rick and members of his congregation came to their poor farming community. Both of them came to saving faith in Jesus Christ.
“Rosemarie is a pioneer member of this new church and was one of the first to be baptised,” Pastor Rick said. “Her testimony really encouraged other people to trust God.”
Rosemarie lights up when she shows people photos of the day Noel received her Operation Christmas Child shoebox.Children and adults are now eager to attend the church and to learn more about God.
“I believe that the constant preaching and teaching of the Word of God will transform lives. This is what I envision for the people here,” Pastor Rick said.
He is excited about continuing with them on their journey of faith. “I want them to follow the plan of God because God says that His plans are to give us a hope for the future.”
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11).
A 13-year-old in South Africa desperately needed new clothes. He was so excited to find an outfit just his size in his shoebox gift. Touched by God’s provision, his mother accepted Jesus Christ as her Saviour, and they are attending the church that hosted the Operation Christmas Child outreach event.
In Namibia, Sukie, age 8, had been playing soccer with bare feet until she received a shoebox gift that included shoes just the right size—and perfect for playing soccer. “God is so good,” she said.
Two friends cried for joy when they opened their shoebox gifts and saw lots of school supplies. They had been praying that God would provide these items, since their families couldn’t afford to buy them.
Their parents thanked God and prayed with the team in the Philippines who had organised the outreach event. Both families are now attending church and learning more about the Lord and His Word.
A 7-year-old refugee in South Asia had wanted a football and a spinning top toy for a long time but he knew his parents couldn’t afford them. His family struggled to have enough money to buy food. He was thrilled to find both items in his shoebox. “What I saw in that box meant that God cares and answers prayers,” he said.
In eastern Europe, a young boy had also been longing for specific items—a soccer ball and jersey. When he opened his shoebox gift, he started jumping for joy because his box contained, among many special things, those exact items.
