One of the amazing benefits we receive as team members at Marketing Essentials is the ability to serve a charity of our choice during a Pay it Forward service day.
I recently served the ministry of Operation Christmas Child in my role as Logistics Coordinator for West Central Ohio. I assisted Drop Off locations in Auglaize, Shelby, Mercer, and Van Wert Counties of Ohio and coordinated the collection at the Central Drop Off location in St. Marys, Ohio.
More About Operation Christmas Child
Operation Christmas Child (OCC) is a ministry of Samaritan's Purse. Operation Christmas Child exists to share God’s love with children in need in a very real and personal way. Through this ministry, Samaritan’s Purse partners with churches across the globe to introduce boys and girls to the message of Jesus and help them grow in their faith.
Shoebox gifts make their way to children living in every imaginable environment—busy cities, tiny rural communities, jungle regions, deserts, conflict areas, islands, and mountain villages. Each gift opens a door for children to hear about Jesus. Dedicated volunteers and local ministry teams work together to deliver these gifts, even in places that are remote, underserved, or historically resistant to the Gospel.
Here in West Central Ohio, our year-round volunteer team regularly meets to train churches and community
groups on how and why we pack shoeboxes. People of all ages—kids, parents, grandparents, and entire congregations—take part each year to bless children around the world. Many families use it as an opportunity to teach generosity. Personally, I keep an eye out for deals on toys, school supplies, and other items throughout the year so I can pack more boxes.
As a year-round volunteer, everything builds toward National Collection Week each November. This past season, I served at our Central Drop-Off location in St. Marys, coordinating with each of our regional drop-off sites and helping gather the shoeboxes from our four-county area. It reminds me of why I’m passionate about this ministry. Children are being introduced to Jesus, often for the very first time. I’m also thankful that Marketing Essentials encourages service by giving employees a day each year to volunteer with an organization close to their hearts.
From a Shoebox to a Child’s Hands
Packing locally is only the first chapter of the shoebox journey. After collection, boxes travel by truck to one of several processing centers in the United States where they’re inspected and prepared for international shipment. Because each receiving country has its own customs regulations, certain items—like liquids, food, or military-style items—cannot be included. In addition to boxes from the U.S., shoebox gifts are assembled by packers in countries such as Canada, Germany, the United Kingdom, South Korea, and several others.
Around the world, many children who receive shoeboxes are invited to participate in The Greatest Journey, a 12-
lesson discipleship program that teaches them what it means to follow Jesus and share their faith. After completing the course, they receive a certificate and a Bible in their own language. As children grow in their understanding of God’s love, families and entire communities are often impacted, and new churches sometimes begin. Following a local outreach event, each child is surprised with their own shoebox gift, often the first gift they’ve ever received.
Each year, more than a hundred thousand outreach events take place worldwide. Every day, tens of thousands of children hear the Gospel, many begin the discipleship program, and countless boys and girls choose to follow Christ. Prayer fuels every step, from those packing shoeboxes to the volunteers teaching and praying with children at discipleship classes.
Since 1993, millions of children in more than 170 countries and territories have been reached through Operation Christmas Child. While the shoebox gift brings excitement and joy, its true purpose is far greater: to reflect God’s love and open doors for the life-changing hope of Jesus.
Again, I can’t thank Marketing Essentials enough for allowing me to Pay It Forward to aid the ministry of Operation Christmas Child.
Read more Pay it Forward stories from Marketing Essentials team members >>
