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Operation Christmas Child
2008 marks the fourth year THF has partnered with Samaritan's Purse International Relief for our holiday focus - Operation Christmas Child.
Operation Christmas Child brings joy and hope to children in desperate situations around the world through gift-filled shoe boxes and the Good News of God’s love. The Heights Fellowship is connecting with this program of Samaritan’s Purse to provide an opportunity for people of all ages to be involved in a simple, hands-on missions project while focusing on the true meaning of Christmas—Jesus Christ, God’s greatest gift. Along with shoe box gifts, millions of children are given Gospel booklets in their own language. In 2006, Operation Christmas Child collected over 7.6 million shoe box gifts worldwide and distributed them to children in 105 countries around the world.
In 2005, THF families delivered 143 filled shoeboxes to the Samaritan's Purse drop off location. In 2006, we delivered exactly 200 boxes...our goal. Last year, our goal was 300 and we delivered 460 boxes! What an amazing thing. Our goal this year is to deliver 500 boxes!
You can participate in Operation Christmas Child as a family, as an individual, or as a Small Group. Here is how it works:
1) Get an empty shoebox and wrap it. (Be sure to wrap the top and the bottom of the shoebox separately. This will help Samaritan's Purse with customs situations in the countries where your box may be sent.)
2) Select the age and gender of the child you wish to help. Be sure and attach a label to the box. The Operation Christmas Child brochures have preprinted labels in them.
NOTE: It costs $7 per box to ship them around the world be sure and include that.
3) Fill the shoe box (see "How do I pack a shoe box?" below)
4) Bring you completed box to The Heights Fellowship of November 23th for "Shoebox Dedication Sunday" Our people will deliver the boxes to the collection location on Monday, November 24th.
5) You can always do more than one box!
The THF Goal for 2008 is 500 boxes from the church for the season.
Click here to see how to pack a shoe box.
Where Do I Drop Off My Shoe Box?
The primary drop off point for all shoe boxes is The Heights Fellowship. Please drop off your completed shoe box(es) at the THF building during services on Shoebox Dedication Sunday on November 23th.
If you cannot be present on November 18th and need to drop off your boxes early drop off your shoe box(es) at: Mardel Christian and Educational, 7020 Quaker Avenue, Lubbock, TX
Shoebox Dedication Sunday
Sunday, November 23th at The Heights Fellowship
Jesus said, "Then the King will say, 'I'm telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me--you did it to me.'" (Matthew 25:40 msg)
No doubt you've heard the children's tale based on the story by Leo Tolstoy about the cobbler who finds that by helping those overlooked by His culture, he was actually doing the work of the Lord - TO THE LORD!
On November 23th, the people of The Heights will be bringing their finished and filled shoeboxes - to the church for what we unofficially call "Cobbler's Sunday." In essence it is Shoebox Dedication Sunday. In each service the THF family will pray over the boxes, praying for the children around the world who will receive them and asking the Lord to bless that child's life through the contents in the box.
The next day, our THF helpers will deliver the boxes to the appropriate collection point.
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