Dear Friends in Christ,
If you’ve been to the store – any store – this past week, you know that it’s impossible to avoid a candy aisle or t-shirt rack displaying pumpkins, candy corn, and Christmas attire slipping in fast. Our children want something for each occasion, and honestly, so do we. Maybe there’s a neat pair of holiday socks or a tie that will just make everyone know that you’ve got the SPIRIT!
As followers of Jesus Christ we are “in the SPIRIT” all the time and have been commissioned by Christ to share the Good News with everyone in all ways. Preparing and packing Operation Christmas Child shoe box gifts is one way that our church has been sharing the Good News for years. We heard from the heart of a young man, V.J., whom God brought to share with us his testimony of receiving shoe boxes in the Ukraine; now V.J. lives in Wilmington and attends Wrightsville United Methodist Church. But his memories of waiting to open that ONE gift, of racing matchbox cars with other boys will never leave him.
I hope that you will be prayerful and thoughtful about this mission. To those who have participated in packing boxes, sticking labels and loading trucks, the blessings have been invaluable. The children who participated in packing over 700 boxes last fall were a part of something bigger than them, bigger than our church – and it fit into a shoe box!
This year, we will collect donations at the Activities Center for shoe boxes to be packed by our church family. Please consider buying a bulk quantity of even a small thing, or perhaps donating your time for wrapping boxes, or a few dollars toward shipping these boxes. It is necessary for us to contribute $7 per box for shipping. They will all carry the Gospel message of salvation through Jesus Christ. This year, Samaritan’s Purse has introduced a new way to contribute the $7 per box called EZ-GIVE. Go to the Samaritan’s Purse website www.samaritanspurse.org and click on the OCC icon. By giving the $7 shipping fee online, you will be able to print out the EZ give label included in your e-mail receipt. The barcode on the label will enable OCC to track each shoe box gift. When shoe boxes begin shipping overseas, you will receive an e-mail telling you the destination of your gift, along with information about Operation Christmas Child in that country.
Join together with your friends, Sunday School class, or family – there will be resources available on the church website or you may direct any questions to me at 910-232-4530 or yellowdog@ec.rr.com .
Blessings,
Darlene Powell,
OCC Coordinator for FBC Wilmington
Dear Friends in Christ,
If you’ve been to the store – any store – this past week, you know that it’s impossible to avoid a candy aisle or t-shirt rack displaying pumpkins, candy corn, and Christmas attire slipping in fast. Our children want something for each occasion, and honestly, so do we. Maybe there’s a neat pair of holiday socks or a tie that will just make everyone know that you’ve got the SPIRIT!
As followers of Jesus Christ we are “in the SPIRIT” all the time and have been commissioned by Christ to share the Good News with everyone in all ways. Preparing and packing Operation Christmas Child shoe box gifts is one way that our church has been sharing the Good News for years. We heard from the heart of a young man, V.J., whom God brought to share with us his testimony of receiving shoe boxes in the Ukraine; now V.J. lives in Wilmington and attends Wrightsville United Methodist Church. But his memories of waiting to open that ONE gift, of racing matchbox cars with other boys will never leave him.
I hope that you will be prayerful and thoughtful about this mission. To those who have participated in packing boxes, sticking labels and loading trucks, the blessings have been invaluable. The children who participated in packing over 700 boxes last fall were a part of something bigger than them, bigger than our church – and it fit into a shoe box!
This year, we will collect donations at the Activities Center for shoe boxes to be packed by our church family. Please consider buying a bulk quantity of even a small thing, or perhaps donating your time for wrapping boxes, or a few dollars toward shipping these boxes. It is necessary for us to contribute $7 per box for shipping. They will all carry the Gospel message of salvation through Jesus Christ. This year, Samaritan’s Purse has introduced a new way to contribute the $7 per box called EZ-GIVE. Go to the Samaritan’s Purse website www.samaritanspurse.org and click on the OCC icon. By giving the $7 shipping fee online, you will be able to print out the EZ give label included in your e-mail receipt. The barcode on the label will enable OCC to track each shoe box gift. When shoe boxes begin shipping overseas, you will receive an e-mail telling you the destination of your gift, along with information about Operation Christmas Child in that country.
Join together with your friends, Sunday School class, or family – there will be resources available on the church website or you may direct any questions to me at 910-232-4530 or yellowdog@ec.rr.com .
Blessings,
Darlene Powell,
OCC Coordinator for FBC Wilmington