Operation Christmas Child

The History of OCC and DRC

For those of you who don't already know, Operation Christmas Child was a favorite ministry of our dear sister, Colleen Butcher.  The ministry Colleen so dearly loved is dedicated to bringing the good news of the Gospel to unreached people groups across the globe.  Pastors and church plants are trained in how to reach out to their local community and bring the gospel to them in the form of an event where children are the focus.  It may be a play about a Bible story, a sing-a-long, or some other entertainment with a God-centered theme.  In the end, shoeboxes are passed out to the children along with the book "The Greatest Journey".  They are invited to attend a 12-session teaching of the story of Christ.

Over 10% of children who receive shoebox gifts come to know the Lord in places like Indonesia, Namibia, the Philippines, and Ukraine.  Please help us bring the good news of our Lord to these unreached places in our world and build a shoebox gift.  Watch this brief video of Good News, Great Joy to see what your gift can do.

 

National Collection Week is November 13 -20, 2023.  Del Rey Church will be handing out free shoeboxes on Sunday, November 5th, and Sunday, November 12th as a way to encourage you to build a box.

After receiving a shoebox gift, children have the opportunity to enroll in The Greatest Journey, a dynamic, 12-lesson Bible study course guiding them through what it means to faithfully follow Jesus Christ. You're encouraged to include in your shoebox a donation of just $6 to help cover the cost of this life-changing program.

Build a shoebox online!

You say you don't have time to go shopping and you have no idea what to pack?! For just $25, Samaritan's Purse has an easy-to-use online method to pack a shoebox Christmas gift.

Follow your box.

Make a $10 donation toward shipping and receive a special label. Attach the label to your shoebox, and Operation Christmas Child's volunteer staff will track it and notify you via email about the country where your box will be delivered with the message of Christ’s love.  While online accessing this fun tracking feature, you are also given the opportunity to donate just $6 to The Greatest Journey by providing class materials.

Where is my box now?

If you donated through "Follow Your Box" and attached the barcoded label to your shoebox, enter your email address to see the status of your shoebox gift.

Learn about the process. 

So what happens to the shoeboxes? Where do they go? How are they distributed? While a few presents are a delightful way to bless a kid, there is much more that happens. Samaritan's Purse uses the shoeboxes as part of their evangelism and discipleship outreaches!

How else can I help?

Operation Christmas Child counts on "in-kind" donations to ensure each shoebox gift is full and of the highest quality. They use donated items from organizations and businesses as filler items and to replace items that may harm a child or damage the shoe box. Most in-kind donations received are discontinued, imperfect, or overrun items that companies can’t sell, but would make great gifts for needy children around the world.

Year-round volunteer support

Volunteering with Operation Christmas Child directly connects you with God's global purposes. By serving year-round, you further the proclamation of the Gospel in more than 150 countries around the world. Every gift-filled shoebox is a powerful tool for evangelism and discipleship, transforming the lives of children and their families through the Good News of Jesus Christ.

Frequently asked questions

Here you will find answers to the questions you may not see answered here on this page.