Operation Christmas Child Delivers Over 12 Million Gift Boxes to Children Worldwide as Christians Spread Gospel Through Generosity
Operation Christmas Child, the global ministry of Samaritan's Purse, is delivering over 12 million gift filled shoeboxes to children in some of the world's most impoverished and dangerous regions as part of its annual Christmas outreach connecting practical generosity with Gospel proclamation.
The initiative, led by Franklin Graham, mobilizes hundreds of thousands of volunteers across participating nations to pack shoeboxes with toys, school supplies, hygiene items, and personal gifts for children who would otherwise receive nothing for Christmas. Each box includes age appropriate items carefully selected to bring joy while meeting practical needs.
Distribution occurs in more than 100 countries, with recipients including children living in poverty, war zones, refugee camps, and remote villages where Christian witness faces significant obstacles. Samaritan's Purse partners with local churches and ministries to deliver boxes and share the Gospel message, using the gifts as entry points for conversations about Jesus Christ.
Every child receiving a shoebox also receives an invitation to participate in The Greatest Journey, a 12 lesson discipleship program that teaches biblical foundations and Christian living. Millions of children have completed the program since its inception, with many making decisions to follow Christ and becoming witnesses in their own communities.
The operation requires massive logistical coordination, with collection centers processing millions of boxes, quality control teams ensuring appropriate contents, and international shipping networks moving containers to distribution points worldwide.
Volunteers contribute at every stage, from packing individual boxes to sorting at regional centers to delivering gifts in remote locations.
Franklin Graham emphasized that Operation Christmas Child represents tangible demonstration of Christian love combined with intentional evangelism.
He stated the ministry refuses to separate meeting physical needs from proclaiming spiritual truth, arguing that authentic Christian charity always points people toward Jesus rather than merely providing temporary relief.
Stories from recipients include children who had never owned a toy receiving their first gift, families in war torn regions finding hope through generosity from strangers, and young believers discovering they belong to a global Christian family that cares about them. Many adults testify that receiving a shoebox as children introduced them to Christianity and changed the trajectory of their lives.
The project costs approximately $10 per box to process and deliver, with Samaritan's Purse requesting donations to cover logistics while volunteers provide the gifts themselves.
The organization maintains transparency about costs and reports that 100 percent of donations designated for Operation Christmas Child directly support the project rather than general organizational overhead.
Critics have occasionally challenged the ministry's evangelistic focus, arguing that aid should be provided without religious messaging. Samaritan's Purse responds that Christian charity flows from Christian conviction and that separating compassion from Gospel proclamation would betray the very motivation behind the ministry.
TAKE ACTION
Pack Shoeboxes: Operation Christmas Child continues year round Website: https://www.samaritanspurse.org/what-we-do/operation-christmas-child Build boxes online or participate in local collection drives
Donate to Cover Shipping: $10 per box covers international logistics Phone: +1 (828) 262-1980 Online: https://www.samaritanspurse.org/operation-christmas-child/follow-your-box
Volunteer at Processing Centers: Help sort and prepare boxes for international shipping Find opportunities: https://www.samaritanspurse.org/operation-christmas-child/volunteer
Host a Packing Party: Organize friends, family, or church groups to pack multiple boxes together Resources and guides available at Samaritan's Purse website
Support The Greatest Journey: Fund discipleship materials for children who receive boxes Every $6 provides a full 12 lesson program for one child
Pray for Recipients: Pray for children receiving boxes, local church partners distributing gifts, and volunteers serving worldwide
