20+ Years and Going!

by Debbie Vanaman

First, I want to thank all of you who have supported Operation Christmas Child over the past 20 plus years that FBC has been involved in this great mission program. Hundreds of thousands of lives have been touched by your generosity in sharing the love of Christ through the power of a shoebox filled with toys, personal items and school supplies.

Now that summer has officially begun, the back to school rush will begin soon. For the months of July and August we will be collecting school supplies such as pencils, erasers, pens, crayons and small coloring books and note pads. There are donation boxes in Fellowship Hall and in the Welcome Center for your convenience. As always keep this program in your prayers as they continue to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ to children and their families around the world.

It’s Amazing!

by Debbie Vanaman

In the 25 years that this program has been in existence, countless numbers of children and their families have heard the name of Jesus for the first time and imagine how it has changed their lives. There are more and more children who are now adults coming forward and sharing their stories on the Samaritan’s Purse website about how that one shoebox in a tiny town half-way around the world made such an impact in their lives. Some of them have even come to the United States and are now spokespersons for Operation Christmas Child. Imagine the changes that have taken place over 25 years. IT’S AMAZING.

Anyway, down to some numbers. This year a huge goal has been set for 2019 and that goal is to collect 11 million (yes I said million) shoeboxes this year in both the United States and around the world. This goal can be attained first and foremost through prayer. Prayer is a vital part of the mission of Operation Christmas Child and has been the cornerstone of its success so far.

Also equally important is your support of this mission. We have been collecting items so far this year and for that I thank you. We will be hopefully building 100 shoeboxes in November with the items you have been donating. For the month of June, I’m asking that you dig into that little pocket of “mad” money that I know we all have and contribute towards the shipping costs of these boxes. The shipping cost for each box is $9.00 so you do the math – that’s $900.00. Checks can be made out to First Baptist Church and just put the word “shoeboxes” on the memo line.
Thanks so much for your prayers and support of what has grown to be a phenomenal ministry.

20 Plus Years

by Debbie Vanaman

Over the 20 plus years that Operation Christmas Child has been in existence and he name of Jesus has reached literally millions of children and their families through what starts out as an empty shoebox. Most people would just toss out this empty box not realizing the impact that it could have. What started out right here in West Virginia with a lady named Mary Dameron going up and down her little holler collecting whatever she could has grown into a huge effort with millions of shoeboxes and countless workers in all phases of this program striving to share the name of Jesus to children who have never heard of our Savior.

We’ve been doing shoeboxes here at FBC for over 20 years and each year it still amazes me how people love to reach out and make a child’s life just a little bit better though this ministry. I sincerely thank you for your prayers and support of this mission project.

For the month of June, we will be collecting girl’s hair brushes, girl’s hair accessories and boy’s combs. Collection boxes are in the Welcome Center and also in Fellowship Hall. Your financial contributions are always welcome as well. We hope to pack 100 shoeboxes in the fall with what we’ve collected and each box needs $9.00 to cover the shipping of that box. Checks can be made out to the church with the word shoeboxes on the memo line.

Just remember – YOU CAN CHANGE A CHILD’S LIFE THROUGH THE POWER OF A SIMPLE SHOEBOX!!!

Operation Christmas Child 2019

Children around the world are being blessed continually through the power of a simple shoebox packed with love with some of the simple things of life like a bar of soap and a washcloth, a toothbrush and a brush or comb. These might seem like small things to you but a child in a remote village in a far off country does not have these simple pleasures. Through Samaritan’s Purse and Operation Christmas Child, these children learn first-hand that someone loves them enough to pack a shoebox just for them. That special toy that’s inside is always a blessing and means the world to these children. They also have the opportunity to learn about our Savior through a program called “The Greatest Journey”. Many, many children have given their lives to Jesus and this blessing resonates through their families and their villages.

This month we are asking for donations of school supplies such as pens, pencils, erasers, pencil sharpeners, crayons, small writing tablets and coloring books. There are Samaritans Purse cartons both in the Welcome Center and in Fellowship Hall for your donations. As always, please keep this program in your prayers as teams of volunteers travel around the world bringing the love of God to children through a shoebox.

To See a Child’s Face Light Up

by Debbie Vanaman

Well hopefully most of the ice and snow by now will be behind us and spring is just around the corner (hopefully).  Despite the word Christmas in its title, the program distributes shoeboxes to children around the world all year long.   Last year over 10.6 million shoeboxes were collected worldwide.  WHAT A BLESSING.   To think it all starts with an empty shoebox.

To see a child’s face light up when he or she gets that special new toy that someone packed just for them is why we do what we do.  Another blessing is the school supplies that are packed.  Many children can’t go to school because their families can’t afford something as simple as a pencil or a box of crayons.   And on the personal hygiene side of the box, toothbrushes are a big hit. I’ve heard stories of as many as six children using the same toothbrush and for a child to have their very own just makes their day. 

And to top it all off, they get to share in the stories of Jesus and how his love reaches even to the uttermost parts of the world right into their towns.  The book is called “The Greatest Journey” and it walks the children step by step into who Jesus is and that he died on the cross for them.  Many, many decisions have been made and countless families have been impacted by this program.

Now it’s time for you to help.   We will be collecting SMALL stuffed toys for the month of March (and I do mean small.)  Collection boxes are in the Welcome Center and Fellowship Hall.  Your prayers are also appreciated as Samaritan’s Purse continues to spread the love of Jesus around the world through the power of a shoebox.    God bless you all. 

Operation Christmas Child 2019

by Debbie Vanaman

Well the month of January certainly was a snowy and cold month.  So for the month of February we will continue to collect bar soap and washcloths.  Collection boxes will be in Fellowship all and the Welcome Center for your your donations.

Once again, as always, I ask you to keep this mission in your prayers as they continue to spread the love of Jesus Christ through something as simple as a shoebox.  God bless you all.

It’s 2019 Already?

by Debbie Vanaman

Wow, it’s hard to believe it’s 2019 already and it’s really hard to think about Christmas 2019 because it seems so far away.  This past shoebox season was a huge success all because of the generosity of people just like you.  We packed and packed and packed so many boxes that came in from churches and organizations until I thought we could pack no more.  So many children will be blessed by these shoeboxes and will learn first-hand of the love of Jesus Christ.

Now it’s time to start to plan for our 2019 season and it all starts with a bar of soap and a washcloth which is what I am asking you to bring during the month of January.  Collection boxes will be in Fellowship Hall and the Welcome Center for your donations.

Once again, as always, I ask you to keep this mission in your prayers as they continue to spread the love of Jesus Christ through something as simple as a shoebox.  God bless you all.

Operation Christmas Child 2018

by Debbie Vanaman

The month of November is the culmination of an entire year of shopping for your shoebox items.   The youth will be packing the shoeboxes with what you’ve donated all year and getting them ready to go on the first leg of their trip to Princeton and then onto Charlotte, North Carolina.  From there they will be distributed to children around the world who, for some, will hear the name of Jesus for the first time.   They will hear the stories of Jesus and hopefully give their heart to him and then spread the word to their families and villages.  That’s’ why we do what we do – to spread the name of Jesus around the world.

What I will need from you this month is an hour or two of your time.  The week of November 12th is collection week so I will need volunteers to work in the Welcome Center receiving shoeboxes from 10:00 to 2:00 pm.  This is where the ladies (or gentlemen) can help out.   Then on November 17th we will hopefully load up and take all that we’ve collected down to Princeton and that’s where I need strong arms to help.  This is hard work so I need some strong men to meet me in the Welcome Center that morning.  Times to be announced soon.

Please pray for collection week around the country as well as distribution of shoeboxes around the world.  Your help and prayers are greatly appreciated.

Shoeboxes is Celebrating a Birthday

by Debbie Vanaman

Twenty-five years ago this year a very small lady from Ikes Fork, West Virginia got the idea to go up and down the hollers of her community and collect items to be put in shoeboxes and  then to take those shoeboxes to the children in countries like Bosnia and Kosovo.

Well since that time over 150 MILLION shoeboxes have been distributed to children around the world and through this effort, countless numbers of children and families have heard the name of Jesus Christ and many have given their hearts to the Lord.  Some of those children now even working for Operation Christmas Child sharing their testimony of how that one shoebox has changed their lives and the lives of their families.

We here at FBC have been involved in this program almost since the beginning and every year your support and giving to this ministry truly blesses those children.  Even in these troubled times, you share your blessings and help a child who literally may have nothing more than the clothes on their back with a shoebox that contains things like soap and a washcloth, a toy, a book, some personal items and maybe some school supplies.

For the month of October, what I am asking you for you don’t have to go to the store to buy.  We are pretty much set on everything we need for our youth to fill the 100 shoeboxes that they will be putting together next month.  What I am asking for comes from your checkbook.   What is needed is $9.00 for each shoebox that we fill and if you do that math that’s $900.   Now that might sound like an awful lot of money but if 100 people gave only $9.00, it would be done.  Or if 50 people gave $18.00, it would be done.  While I know we have support from people who have donated throughout the year for the shipping costs, still more is needed.   So if you write a check, just put shoebox postage in the memo line and place it in the offering plate on Sunday mornings or mail it to the church.

I have heard the testimony first hand of how these shoeboxes have changed lives and this ministry goes 365 days a year distributing shoeboxes around the world.  Please keep them in your prayers as they spread the name and gospel of Jesus Christ.

Operation Christmas Child: Celebrating 25 Years

by Debbie Vanaman

As fall is now upon us and school is back in session, Christmas isn’t that far away. Operation Christmas Child this year is celebrating its 25th year of collecting shoeboxes and distributing them to children around the world.  Five years ago we celebrated 100 million shoeboxes and the figure of 200 million isn’t that far off but it’s still just a drop in the bucket for the children who have yet to hear the name of Jesus or know the compassion of someone creating a shoebox just for them.  Can’t you just see the smiles on their faces as they open that box and find that precious toy or those needed school supplies – it’s heartwarming.

These boxes also impact the entire family by sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ through the “Our Greatest Journey” program which is a series of lessons on Jesus and how to accept him into the child’s heart and then, hopefully, the family.     This is such a moving experience to see families changed by something as simple as a shoebox.

For the month of September, we will be collecting various items.  I still need small girl’s hairbrushes, small coloring or sticker books, markers, colored pencils and erasers.   I will be starting a push for October to collect the necessary funds to ship our 100 boxes that our children and youth will be making in November.  So if you want to get a jump on it, just make the check out to First Baptist Church and put Samaritans Purse shipping on the memo line and you can cross that off your to-do list.

As always, I ask that you keep this vital mission in your prayers as we enter collection season that each box made will help to show the love of Jesus Christ to children and families around the word.