Operation Christmas Child

by Debbie Vanaman

It’s hard to think about Christmas when the temperatures are up in the 90’s and the humidity is unbearable but that’s just what we need to do. Children around the world receive these shoeboxes not just at Christmas time but all throughout the year and your contributions will go a long way towards making a child’s life just a little bit better.  Your response so far has been nothing short of over-whelming and for that I thank you.

For the months of July and August we will be collecting school supplies such as pens, pencils, markers, crayons and small note pads and coloring books (emphasis on the word small please).  Collection boxes for these items are located in the Welcome Center and also in Fellowship Hall.  Also if you have any extra empty shoeboxes, they are needed as well and can be left in the church office. 

Collection week this year is November 14th  through November 21^st.   Please mark these dates in your calendar as I will need lots and lots of help during that week.  As I always ask you, please continue to keep this program in your prayers as shoeboxes are distributed to children around the world helping to spread the name of Jesus Christ.

by Debbie Vanaman

First of all, let me thank you once again for the outpouring of support that has been shown so far this year.  So far I have five plastic tubs full of items for our shoeboxes and the year is not quite half over.  So again thanks so much.

We are so blessed here in Beckley and these blessings are being shared with children around the world as Samaritan’s Purse continues to deliver shoeboxes to children in all parts of the world and you are a part of those blessings.  You will never know how your shoebox will impact a child, a family and possibly an entire village by sharing the contents of those boxes as well as the message of Jesus Christ.

For the month of June, you are asked to bring bars of soap, washcloths, combs and hairbrushes.  These items can be left in the collection boxes that are located in the Welcome Center and also in Fellowship Hall.

Please keep this program in your prayers throughout the year as children are receiving these boxes around the world.

by Debbie Vanaman

First of all, let me thank each and every one of you for your support of our shoe box ministry so far.  Your response has been overwhelming.   Thanks also to the ladies (and gentlemen) who are helping with our teddy bear project.  Just imagine a child opening up their shoe box and finding a hand-made bear made just for them.  Our ABW ladies will be stuffing the bears which haven’t been completed yet at their meeting in June.  So if you have bears already sewn together, just return it to the church office and the ladies will finish it up for you.

For the month of May, we will be collecting small toys such as dolls, cars, small flashlights with extra batteries, hand-held games, small balls and things of that nature.  Just remember it has to be small enough to fit in a shoe box with lots of other things. Donation boxes are in the Welcome Center and Fellowship Hall.

Please keep this program in your prayers year-round as shoe boxes are being distributed around the world to children who may for the first time hear the name of Jesus.

Remember my favorite saying – you can change the world through the power of a shoe box.

We are off to a fabulous start with our donations in January and February even considering the cold weather.  I know it seems that winter will never end but just remember spring (hopefully) is just around the corner.

Some facts and figures for you to ponder as you do your shoeboxes this year.  Last year here in the U.S. over 8.7 million shoeboxes were collected.  That total worldwide went a little over 11 million which was a seven percent increase from last year.  What a blessing those children will be receiving this year as those shoeboxes filled with all kinds of goodies are distributed around the world.  But it doesn’t stop there.  The goal for the U.S. for 2016 is 9.5 million shoeboxes and the only way that can be accomplished is one shoebox at a time and that’s where you come in.

For the month of March we will be collecting toothbrushes, toothpaste and girls hairbrushes.  Collection boxes are located in Fellowship Hall and in the Welcome Center.

Please keep this project in your prayers as shoeboxes are being distributed around the world all throughout the year and always remember you can change a child’s life through the power of a shoebox.

First of all let me thank you for your support of our shoebox ministry during the month of January.  It’s a great start but we need to keep the ball rolling.

For the month of February we will be collecting pens, pencils, crayons, coloring books & small note pads (emphasis on the word small).

Collection boxes are in the Welcome Center and also in Fellowship Hall.  Also if you have any empty shoeboxes, I can always use them and they can be left in the church office.  Last but certainly not least, please keep this program in your prayers through this year as shoeboxes are distributed around the world and the name of Jesus is brought to towns and villages around the world.

by Debbie Vanaman

No, you’re not seeing things.   It’s a new year and I’ve decided to change things up a bit this year for Operation Christmas Child.    We’re going to start this month and each month until October we will be collecting different items for our shoebox program.  Then in November the youth will separate what we’ve collected and start filling our shoeboxes.  This way it kind of spreads things out a bit and I hope it will increase our number of shoeboxes with the end result will be blessings for even more children.

For the month of January we will be collecting combs, bars of soap and washcloths.

Collection boxes are in the sanctuary and also in Fellowship Hall.  Also if you have any empty shoeboxes, I can always use them and they can be left in the church office.  Last but certainly not least, please keep this program in your prayers through this year as shoeboxes are distributed around the world and the name of Jesus is brought to villages, towns and cities through the power of a simple shoebox.

FYI – We received an email that some of the shoeboxes from FBC will be going to India, Ghana and Burundi.

by Debbie Vanaman

When all was said and done, our relay center had a record year.  With the state of the economy here in Southern West Virginia, I expected our numbers to be somewhat down from last year’s total of 2,958 which incidentally was all-time high for our relay. Well, that was so not true. The total number of shoeboxes collected from churches, schools, businesses and individuals was 3,103 shoeboxes!                                                                   

Yep, that’s right. It was up, and up quite a bit.  But it would not run as smoothly as it did without the help of a great group of volunteers who manned “Shoebox Center” in the Welcome Center that week.  You guys and gals were great.  And let’s not forget the Saturday morning loading crew who loaded 185 cartons in under an hour.  A truly awesome task.

As the time creeps ever closer to Christmas Day, just remember children around the world who during the coming months will receive a shoebox filled with a toy or a stuffed animal, pencils, crayons and other personal items.  Some of these children have never received a gift before and imagine the looks on their faces when those boxes are opened and these items are shared.  They also will receive a booklet called “The Greatest Journey” which tells them about Jesus and how they can accept Jesus into their heart.

Just remember – it all starts with one shoebox and you can help change the world one shoebox at a time. Stay tuned for some shoebox changes in 2016.

by Debbie Vanaman

More than 15 years ago, FBC partnered with Samaritans Purse and got involved in Operation Christmas Child for the first time.   Hundreds and thousands of shoeboxes have been collected during that time and for that I am truly grateful.  These children, most of whom have never had a present before in their lives, received a shoebox filled with school supplies, small toys and hygiene items.  Many of them had to wait in line for what seemed like hours for a young child just to receive this box.  The joy and smiles on their faces as you see pictures of boxes being distributed will melt your heart.   With every shoebox that is given out, the word of Jesus goes with it to that child’s home and eventually to their village or town that they live in.  This also has an impact on the families who often have never heard of Jesus and ultimately through their child, give their hearts and lives over to Jesus.  Yes it takes a bit of time and some money, but the reward is immeasurable.  Just one shoebox in one small town halfway around the world can have an extremely positive impact.

Collection week this year is November 16^th through 20^th.  This is when shoeboxes from churches and organizations in our community return their shoeboxes to be packed in cartons and start their journey.  Helpers are needed during that week but also on Saturday, Nov. 21^st when these cartons have to be loaded and taken to Princeton.   The time for this is not definite – so keep an eye on the church bulletin for that info.

As always, I ask you to keep this program in your prayers throughout 2016 as the shoeboxes are delivered  around the world.   Remember – it’s a simple shoebox but it has the power to change the world through your gift.

by Debbie Vanaman

It’s not enough to do something … it’s time for us to do something … and now is the time.  Children around the world need to know that someone cares for him or her and we here at First Baptist have done a great job in the past.  Operation Christmas Child is one way the gospel of Jesus is spread around the world by giving a child a shoebox filled with all kinds of goodies, school supplies and hygiene items that they can use and often times share with their family.

During the month of October, you are being asked to bring small toys such as dolls, balls, flashlights, hand-held games and personal hygiene items such as soap, wash clothes, toothpaste, toothbrushes, combs and hairbrushes but remember nothing liquid.  There are collection boxes both in the sanctuary and in Fellowship Hall.

Collection week in November is quickly approaching and I will definitely need help that week.  Due to my recent surgery, I can’t do some of the manual work that goes along with collection week.  So if you can help, please call me in the church office.  Your help, as always, is greatly appreciated.  Please keep this program in your prayers as we gear up for another great collection time.

The pencils and crayons are bought.  The kids are back in school.  So now what are you going to do with all that “spare” time?   One suggestion might be to start shopping for your Operation Christmas Child boxes.  School supplies are on sale all over and you can get some really great bargains.

Even though our collection week last year was one of the best we’ve ever had, there’s always room for more boxes.   Each child who receives a shoebox also receives some gospel literature in his/her own language as well as a book called “The Greatest Journey” which tells them about Jesus and explains the road to salvation.  This not only impacts the child, but his family as well.

For the month of August/September we will be collecting school supplies as well as soap and washcloths.  October and November we will be asking for other personal items and small toys.  There are collection boxes in the sanctuary as well as Fellowship Hall for your donations.  Our youth will be packing your donations into shoeboxes right before collection week in November and they had a really good time last year doing this.    If you don’t have the time to go shopping, a donation is always welcome.

As we look at the state of children around the world and the poverty that some of them are living in as well as in the war-torn areas of the Middle East, Samaritan’s Purse takes these shoeboxes to children in these areas and shows them that someone clear around the world cares enough for them to pack a shoebox full of “presents”  just for them.

So, let’s get going and see how many lives we can change.   See Debbie Vanaman if you need any further info.  My all-time favorite shoebox saying is ….

WE CAN CHANGE THE WORLD – ONE SHOEBOX AT A TIME !!!