Operation Christmas Child returns to Yazoo City next week with Calvary Baptist Church serving as the local relay center.
The world’s largest Christmas project of its kind, Operation Christmas Child, uses gift-filled shoeboxes to demonstrate God’s love in a tangible way to children in need around the world.
Since 1993, the Samaritan’s Purse project has collected and delivered more than 135 million gift-filled shoeboxes to children in more than 150 countries and territories.
Shoeboxes in the Yazoo area will be collected at Calvary Baptist Church at 1408 Jackson Ave. from Nov. 14-21.
Lee Ann Allison, the Yazoo Relay Coordinator, said the local site collected 2,151 shoeboxes last year.
“Our goal this year for the Yazoo Relay Center is 3,000,” she said.
Individuals, families, churches and groups have been filling empty shoeboxes with toys, school supplies, hygiene items, and notes of encouragement.
Samaritan’s Purse and its partners will deliver the gifts to children in more than 100 countries.
But there is more to the ministry with the discipleship program, The Greatest Journey.
More than 7.4 million children have participated in The Greatest Journey. The follow-up program is offered to many children who receive shoebox gifts. The Greatest Journey is implemented through a global church network to help children learn how to know and follow Jesus.
“As a result of what they learn in the Greatest Journey, boys and girls grow in Christ and share with friends and family,” Allison said. “The students also invite others to their graduations where 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.”
Collection Schedule
Monday, Nov. 14; 10 a.m.- 1 p.m.
Tuesday, Nov. 15; 10 a.m.- 1 p.m.
Wednesday, Nov. 16; 10 a.m.- 1 p.m. and 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Thursday, Nov. 17; 10 a.m.- 1 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 18; 10 a.m.- 1 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 19; 10 a.m.-noon
Sunday, Nov. 20; 1:30 p.m. m- 3:30 p.m.
Monday, Nov. 21; 8 a.m. - 10 a.m.
