November 3, 1999

Texans asked to send love in a box
___By George Henson
___Staff Writer
___Churches across Texas are once again trying to see how much love they can stuff into a shoebox.
___Operation Christmas Child, coordinated by Franklin Graham's Samaritan's Purse ministry, unites thousands of individuals, families, churches and groups in sending gift-filled shoeboxes to children in troubled parts of the world.
___Participants typically fill the shoeboxes with small toys, hard candy and necessity items such as flashlights, school supplies and toiletries. Many also include a family photo and personal note in hopes of establishing a pen-pal relationship with the recipient. The boxes must be wrapped, with the top and bottom of each box wrapped separately.
___Steve Melson, Texas representative for Operation Christmas Child, said that for most participants it is more than an even exchange.
___"We've found that Operation Christmas Child touches the hearts of those giving the shoeboxes as well as those receiving them," he said. "This is a person-to-person, heart-to-heart project. Through a simple shoebox gift, children and their families in Texas can make a connection of caring with children and their families who are less fortunate. Both are better for it."
___Danny Moore, a member of First Baptist Church in Duncanville, agrees.
___"It is just a simple thing that anyone can do to make a difference in a child's life. This is something that I as an individual can do and, put together with the larger effort, see something really good come out of it," Moore said.
___The project has grown each year. In 1993, more than 28,000 shoebox gifts were collected for children in need. Last year, Operation Christmas Child touched 2.3 million children in 55 countries including Bosnia, Mexico, Nicaragua, Jordan, Lebanon, Russia and South Africa.
___Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano has been a regional collection center for the gifts for several years.
___"Franklin gave me a video which showed highlights of the 1993 distribution," Pastor Jack Graham said. "I showed it to our ministerial staff, and we immediately committed.
___"Operation Christmas Child is a simple 'hands-on' mission project that can appeal to the entire church. It's an extremely efficient way to bring the church together while touching the lives of children whose lives have been turned upside down by war or famine," he said.
___"To see the faces of the children as they receive their gifts ... the smiles, the joy on their faces is truly incredible. ... And knowing that each child receives the gospel of Jesus Christ through the Christmas story in their own language has made it a perfect fit for us," Graham said.
___Ross Robinson, minister of missions and evangelism at Prestonwood, has seen those children's faces personally. He has traveled with Franklin Graham the past four years to assist with gift distributions in Bosnia, Croatia, Mexico and Nicaragua.
___"Many of the children have never received a present of any kind in their lives," he related. "I've had children take one gift out of their box and try to give the rest of the box to me. They were overwhelmed to realize that the entire gift-filled box was actually all theirs. The children keep everything--including the wrapping paper."
___Franklin Graham said the message to children is simple: "Our attempt is to let kids know that there are people who care. No strings attached--'God bless you and God loves you.'"
___The message seems to be getting across.
___A 9-year-old boy in the Ukraine told those bringing him a shoebox this story through an interpreter: "Last night, Christmas Eve, I was hoping that I might receive a Christmas present the next day, even though I knew it probably wouldn't happen. I thought I would pray about getting a Christmas gift, but I realized I didn't even know whom I was praying to. This morning you came with gifts. The best thing was that you told me whom I was praying to. It was as if you had read my thoughts. I am overwhelmed."
___This year, Prestonwood will be the collection center for Dallas and Collin counties and areas to the east. The information line is (972) 820-5111, ext. 6124.
___For the Mid-Cities, Fort Worth and areas to the west, the collection site is First United Methodist Church in Bedford. The information line there is (817) 331-6922.
___A network of relay stations for receiving shoeboxes supports the two main collection centers. To find the one nearest your location, contact the collection center serving your area.
___All boxes should be received by a collection center no later than Nov. 22.
___Collection and relay centers
___Abilene: First United Methodist Church.
___Amarillo: St. Stephen United Methodist Church.
___Austin: Fellowship of the Hills.
___Big Spring: Allan's Furniture.
___Dallas: Prestonwood Baptist Church.
___Floydada: First Baptist Church.
___Fort Worth: First United Methodist Church.
___Houston: First Baptist Church.
___Lubbock: Mardel Christian Store
___San Antonio: Castle Hills First Baptist Church.
___San Angelo: New Beginnings Bookstore
___Waco: Highland Baptist Church.
___Wichita Falls: First Baptist Church.
___Woodlands: Faith Community Church.

---

Contents/ Masthead / Why We're Here / Links / Archive / E-mail us/ SUBSCRIBE!