If you have grown up in the church, you have likely heard of Samaritans Purse, and Operation Christmas Child, but do you know how the iconic project began?

In the summer of 1993, Franklin Graham got a phone call. A friend asked him to put together some shoeboxes to help the children’s of Bosnia- which had been left in shambles from the war. Graham initially agreed, but later forgot. Later that year he received a second call, asking about the status of the boxes. With little time left he turned to his church for help. The congregation were taught how to pack a box, and encouraged to include notes, drawings and letters.

That week 11,000 shoeboxes lined the halls, and gifts from the Canadian branch of Samaritan’s Purse brought in another 28,000. The gifts signified the purpose of Luke Chapter 2,  “I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.” Though the boxes, Samaritan’s Purse was able to touch the children of Bosnia and communicate the gospel to them.

“Since 1993, more than 198 million children in more than 170 countries and territories have received an Operation Christmas Child shoebox. The project delivers not only the joy of what, for many kids, is their first gift ever, but also gives them a tangible expression of God’s love.”

So how did this happen? Operation Christmas Child has an amazing reach due to the countless volunteers. Families pack boxes beginning around early November. They bring them to collection centers and local churches where they are prayed over. A representative of the church will then bring those boxes to a bigger collection center or church. There, they are put into large boxes, and prayed for again. These boxes go to a Samaritan’s Purse facility where they are screened to ensure safety. They are prayed for by nearly every hand that touches them, also supported by the 30,000 people who make up the prayer network. The shoeboxes are again packed back into the large boxes. From there they are distributed to countries and territories in need. Some are shipped by boat, plane, or car. Some are delivered by bike, skiff, mule, donkey cart or carried by hand, or on heads! (Check out this awesome video!)

Operation Christmas Child doesn’t just send boxes, but teams, to communicate Christ to impoverished areas. Kids are led in song, prayer, and given books in their own language to teach them about Jesus. Countless volunteers have since come forward with God Sightings, where they saw his hands in the ministry, guiding their work for his glory. Mothers getting infant items when there was no appropriate age group in the boxes, Children getting the correct size shoes, or other desperately needed items.

OCC and its volunteers are constantly looking for opportunities to partner with new churches or families, click here to learn more about them, or here to see the power of a simple gift!