Samaritan’s Purse: Christmas Shoe Boxes for Children in Need

Samaritan's Purse (UK & Ireland) is an international relief and development organisation that works through local churches to proclaim and demonstrate the love of God amongst communities in need in 18 countries across Africa, Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

They are part of the global Samaritan’s Purse family that has been providing spiritual and physical aid to hurting people around the world since 1970. Along with the UK and Ireland, Samaritan's Purse has offices in the USA, Canada, Germany, Hong Kong and Australia.

Even if you don't recognise the name, you may well have come across our Operation Christmas Child initiative, which thousands of churches, schools and businesses across the UK and Ireland are already part of. 

But they do more than just send shoeboxes overseas. They respond in a distinctly Christian way to issues facing people in the places where we work: issues like water and sanitation, HIV and AIDS, sustainable livelihoods along with disasters and emergencies.

Samaritan's Purse believes in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They're committed to seeing this gospel shared in the form of both words (that can change spiritual circumstances) and acts of mercy (that can change physical circumstances). 

They choose to work through the local Church - seeing it as God’s chosen instrument to bring hope to a hurting world. That's why they are committed to working with and through local churches, raising them up to bring lasting hope to people in impoverished communities around our world. 

Samaritan's Purse chooses to work in partnership - which is why they are always looking to inspire and encourage others to join with them in being part of God’s global mission. They know that each individual can bring their own talents, gifts and unique contribution - no matter how small - to this great work to which we have all been called.

Samaritan’s Purse is calling on all UK churches, schools, workplaces, families and individuals to help achieve a remarkable milestone - delivering the 100 millionth gift-filled shoebox to children during this year’s Operation Christmas Child (OCC) campaign.

Over the past 22 years, Operation Christmas Child has delivered 94 million shoeboxes to needy children in over 100 countries.  To lift this total to 100 million and beyond, UK staff and volunteers have embarked upon a nationwide drive to find and encourage even more people to help bring joy to children around the world this Christmas.

“We’re asking everyone across the UK to help us achieve this remarkable milestone”, says Samaritan’s Purse UK Executive Director, Simon Barrington. “It’s great way to celebrate Christmas - showing children, most of whom live in the most difficult circumstances, that God loves them and cares for them and that He’s not forgotten them.” 

To see the video, go to: http://www.operationchristmaschild.org.uk/  and get yourself, your church, school, workplace or family involved in this amazing initiative!

To get involved, go to: http://www.operationchristmaschild.org.uk/shoeboxworld/

Blessings!

Ronell x

“So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” {Matthew 7v12}