It is almost time for our Third Annual Operation Christmas Child “Christmas in July” event! Join us on Wednesday, July 30 with a pizza dinner at 5:30 followed by a brief, informational program. Everyone is invited! There will be special prizes for all and an amazing door prize drawing for 3 Dollywood tickets. This is the one time of the year when you can really learn about OCC, its accomplishments from last year, and the goals for this year. After talking about OCC, we will have the privilege of packing some boxes and praying over them.
Last year, CPC packed 630 boxes for Operation Christmas Child. That total included 120 boxes packed at the Christmas in July packing party plus 320 boxes packed at our November packing party. The remaining 190 boxes were packed by individuals and families. This year, we hope for many more, and we hope everyone continues to bring items for the packing parties! (See the list above and in the bulletin for items needed.)
Twenty of our boxes last year were actually “packed” through the Samaritan’s Purse website. You can do that again this year too – go to Samaritanspurse.org, select Operation Christmas Child under the "What We Do" menu, then Build a Shoebox Online, and then type in Covenant Presbyterian Chattanooga 2025 to find our goal page. You will be able to choose specific items for the age/gender child you have chosen. The $30 cost includes the toys, shipping & handling, and Gospel materials. This is available starting now through November 30.
CPC’s goal for 2025 is 700 total boxes, but of course, we would love to donate more. EVERY box represents a specific child who gets to hear about the love of Jesus and receive these gifts as evidence of His great love shown through you and me. It is amazing that God allows us to be part of reaching these little ones for Him!
Last year Samaritan’s Purse distributed 11.9 million shoeboxes to 120 countries (118 languages) around the world. Every child receiving a box heard the Gospel, and one in four gave their lives to Him. Imagine what it will be like to meet these dear ones in heaven! This is why I love being part of this ministry.
The children also have the opportunity to sign up for The Greatest Journey. That “journey” is a 12-lesson program where they learn about the Bible, Jesus, growing in their faith, and even how to share Him with others. (And they do!) Many of their families and friends come to know Jesus, and nearly 1000 churches per year are started in areas that had no church before. They love to read their new Bibles - given to them when they graduate from The Greatest Journey classes - and they love to worship together.
Since 1993, OCC has reached 232 million children with the gospel and shoeboxes. OCC reaches new areas of the world every year. Most of these kids are very poor, and this is possibly their first gift ever. There are still an estimated 600 million children who have never received an OCC shoebox or heard the Gospel. Please pray for this ministry and for these children and join us in spreading the Good News and Great Joy of Jesus!
Thank you for your partnership,
Judy Foster and the OCC Committee
