Operation Christmas Child
Shoebox Joy in Ethiopia for the First Time in Nearly 30 Years
25 March 2025
For the first time in nearly 30 years, the red and green Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts arrived on the laps of children in Ethiopia.
Operation Christmas Child is a hands-on way for Australians and New Zealanders to demonstrate God’s love to children in need around the world by filling shoeboxes with toys, hygiene items, school supplies and other fun gifts. We collect the gift-filled shoeboxes and, through local ministry partners, distribute them to children in over 100 countries reaching out to communities with the Good News of Jesus Christ.
After receiving a shoebox gift, many children have the opportunity to enrol in The Greatest Journey – our dynamic, 12-lesson Bible study course that guides children through what it means to faithfully follow Jesus Christ.
The mission of Operation Christmas Child is to provide God’s love in a tangible way to children in need around the world, and together with the local church worldwide, to share the Good News of Jesus Christ.
Australia: 13 – 27 October
New Zealand: 20 – 25 October
Shoeboxes are packed by people globally, and they are sent to children in over 100 countries.
Children are given the choice to enrol in a 12-week discipleship course called The Greatest Journey
From children to seniors, people pack shoebox gifts each year to bless children in need around the world. Parents often use the project to teach their kids about giving. Volunteers support these efforts across the country.
Individuals, churches, schools and community groups of all sizes collect boxes from their communities. Some churches also serve as drop-off locations for shoeboxes during National Collection every year.
Thousands of volunteers serve annually inspecting and preparing shoeboxes for international shipping. Every day throughout processing, we stop and pray for the children who will receive the boxes.
Long before shoeboxes arrive in more than 100 countries, volunteer National Leadership Teams train pastors and community leaders who want to share the message of the Gospel and bless children. The leaders learn how to host child-friendly outreach events, and how to implement The Greatest Journey follow-up discipleship program.
Pastors around the world host outreach events in places where people may not know Christ and invite them to follow Him. Other churches use the boxes as resources for outreach in orphanages and other at-risk areas.
As a result of what they learn in The Greatest Journey, boys and girls grow in Christ and share with friends and family. The students also invite others to their graduations where the Gospel is shared. This often brings parents, siblings, and friends to accept Christ and become active members in the local church. Families are reached, churches grow, new churches are started, and communities are transformed.
