Pray with Operation Christmas Child - January 2017 Week 3

Will you join us in praying for South America this month? This week we are praying for Panama, Paraguay and Peru.

Panama

·         Pray God will provide a new storage and distribution location for the shoeboxes for this year. Pray against challenges as the teams distribute the shoeboxes to the ministry partners.

·         Pray for the logistics process; pray that all of the communication and work with customs and the port will be handled without any delays. 

Paraguay 

·         Praise God OCC was able to reach the city of Puentesiño, which is difficult to access. Praise Him the team was able to reach over 1,000 children, demonstrating the tangible love of God.

·         Pray God will guide the team to hear His voice and will provide the ideal person to serve as the volunteer National Coordinator for Paraguay.

Peru

·         Pray that the successful church-planting tool of shoebox gifts will continue to multiply. 

Peru June 2016

Peru June 2016

Peru June 2016

Javier is a volunteer with OCC in Peru...the other side of the box, Judy and I are on the NEA Area team in the USA, we met him as our translator when we were on a medical/dental mission trip last summer (June 2016)

Proverbs 3:5 - this hangs on a wall in the church in Neuvo Pachacutec, Lima Peru.

Peru June 2016 - you can NOT send liquid in shoeboxes but we were able to take it on out mission trip, the kids loved bubbles!

Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;

January 1-14, 2017 Operation Christmas Child Prayer South America week 1 & 2

Prayer Reminders

Prayer is what opens the heart of a child to the redemption available through the blood of Jesus. Franklin Graham says, “The most important item you can send in a shoebox is prayer.” Faithful prayers are what allows the journey to accomplish its intended purpose. What a glorious opportunity we have to participate in his plan.

                                See our new OCC Prayer Video and share it with your friends.

This month we are praying for South America

General Prayer Requests each country faces:

·            Wisdom to recruit, select, and lead new and/or transitioning volunteer leadership team members.

·            Provision of resources and the person who leads this area so they are able to reach their God-sized goals for the current year.

MID-SOUTH PRAYER REQUESTS:

·              Pray for the new Mid-South Regional Director Todd Edwards as he transitions to the region January 3rd.

·              Praise God for the many gospel opportunities that He blessed our region with in 2016!

·              Pray for Godly wisdom for Mid-South staff and Area Coordinators as they begin planning for 2017.

·              Please continue to pray for prospective volunteers who are showing interests in serving with OCC on their local Area Teams as year-round Connect volunteers.

·              Pray for all National Leadership Teams as they begin receiving and distributing shoeboxes.

·              Pray for the many children who will receive shoeboxes and as they have the opportunity to attend The Greatest Journey.

NEA Prayer Requests:

• Pray for our area team as Vicki Pepper, our Regional Manager, as she will be helping our Area Team until we have a new Area Coordinator. 
• Pray for Melinda Dixon and her mom as she is healing. Pray for blessing on Melinda as she is a care giver for her mom and as her work load increases - she had to resign, with heavy heart as our AC and will be greatly missed.

PRAISE ITEMS:

1. Millions of shoebox gifts packed by prayerful donors are on their way to children in over 100 countries. God has allowed Operation Christmas Child to reach more children this year than any previous year with the precious gift of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 
2. Praise God for the 11 countries that have already received their 2016 season shoeboxes and for the volunteer teams now working hard in Outreach Events to share the Good News with over 200,000 children. 
3. Pray for the over 6 million shoeboxes on the way to children in 43 countries 
4. Prayer is what opens the heart of a child to the redemption available through the blood of Jesus. Franklin Graham says, “The most important item you can send in a shoebox is prayer.” Faithful prayers are what allows the journey to accomplish its intended purpose. What a glorious opportunity we have to participate in his plan.

Argentina

Argentina OCC

·         Praise God for the completion of the volunteer National Leadership Team this year.

·         Pray for the children enrolled in The Greatest Journey in the cities of Buenos Aires and Corrientes to grow in discipleship. 

Bolivia

·         Praise God for the honor of preparing pastors and teachers, as well as mobilizing churches, for the spiritual formation of the new generations that will come to know God the Father.

·         Pray that in this season, God will open the doors to reach new unreached communities where the Gospel has previously been inaccessible. 

Bolivia OCC - The Greatest Gift Book

Brazil

·         Pray for an opening in the bureaucratic process to allow the importation of shoeboxes in the future.

·         Pray for wisdom for the volunteer team in the city of Recife as they plan for future seasons.

·         Pray for the contacts that will be made with new churches and ministries in the Northeast of Brazil for this year. 

Chile

·         Praise God for the more than 5,000 children who received Christ in 2016. 

Colombia

·         Pray for the vision castings, as well as the Ministry Partner and The Greatest Journey trainings that occurred throughout the various regions in Colombia for greater effectiveness. 

Ecuador OCC

Ecuador

·         Praise God for the largest and most effective national volunteer conference in the country held recently.

·         Praise God for the provision of various gift-in-kind donations for storage of the OCC materials.

·         Pray for wisdom in navigating the government bureaucracy that comes with managing a large amount of boxes in the country.

Pray with Operation Christmas Child - November 2016

This month we are praying for South America. International Prayer Requests that  each country faces is: 

1. Wisdom to recruit, select, and lead new and/or transitioning volunteer leadership team members. 
2. Provision of resources to reach their God-sized goals for the current year.

WEEK 1: November 14-20th REQUESTS:

1. IT IS NATIONAL COLLECTION WEEK – PRAY FOR THIS WEEK TO BE A SUCCESS!!! Sign Up to pray for 10 minutes during National Collection Week at: 24/7 NATION COLLECTION WEEK PRAYER PARTNER 

• Monday, November 14: Ask God to bless the local volunteers who serve to collect, process, transport, and deliver shoebox gifts around the world. 
• Tuesday, November 15: Pray for Operation Christmas Child to bring joy to boys and girls who are struggling to overcome the effects of poverty, disease, famine, or war. 
• Wednesday, November 16: Pray that the hearts of children who receive shoebox gifts will be prepared to receive the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 
• Thursday, November 17: Pray that the gifts inside each shoebox will help girls and boys begin to experience God’s unconditional love. 
• Friday, November 18: Pray that the children who enroll in The Greatest Journey follow-up discipleship program will come to faith in Jesus, and share the Good News with their friends and family.  
• Saturday, November 19: Pray that God will use Operation Christmas Child to open doors in countries that are not receptive to the Gospel. 
• Sunday, November 20: Praise the Lord for using Samaritan’s Purse to distribute 135 million Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts since 1993! Pray for millions more children to experience the love of Jesus Christ through these simple gifts. 
• Monday, November 21: Pray for the seamless transportation of shoebox gifts as they are transferred from local drop-off sites to regional Processing Centers.  (Also the 21st is my birthday, you can pack a shoebox online with me at: BUILD A BOX ONLINE

Argentina - 

1. Pray for the children enrolled in The Greatest Journey (TGJ) discipleship program in Buenos Aires and Corrientes. 
2. Pray pastors and teachers will be able to witness to parents who attend TGJ graduations. 

Bolivia - 

1. Praise God for the honor of preparing pastors and teachers, as well as mobilizing churches, for the spiritual formation of the new generations that will come to know God the Father. 
2. Pray that in this season, God will open the doors to reach unreached communities where the Gospel has previously been inaccessible. 

Brazil - 

1. Praise God for the unity of the local team in their ministry and for the love they have for each other.  
2. Pray for the contacts that will be made with new churches and ministries in the northeast of Brazil next year. 

Chile - 

1. Praise God for more than 5,000 children who received Christ in 2016.  
2. Pray for all the children who are being discipled and will soon graduate from The Greatest Journey discipleship program.  

WEEK 2: November 21-27th 
Colombia - 

1.  Pray for the customs and transporting of the shoeboxes and literature this season. Pray for the provision of the resources needed, including financial, logistical, and volunteer support. 
2.  Pray for the volunteer leadership teams that are working hard this season. Pray the Lord will bless them in all areas of their lives – families, ministries and jobs. 

Ecuador - Pray for wisdom in navigating the government bureaucracy that comes with managing a large amount of boxes in the country.

Panama -

1. Pray God will provide a new storage and distribution location for the shoeboxes this year. Pray against challenges as the teams distribute the shoeboxes to the Ministry Partners.  
2. Pray for the logistics process; pray that all of the communication and work with customs and the port will be handled without any delays. 

WEEK 3: November 28-Dec.4th
Paraguay -

1. Praise God OCC was able to reach the city of Puentesiño, which is difficult to access. Praise Him the team was able to reach over 1,000 children, demonstrating the tangible love of God. 
2. Pray God will guide the team to hear His voice and will provide the ideal person to serve as the National Coordinator for Paraguay. 
3. Pray for the volunteer coordinators serving on the regional volunteer leadership teams in San Pedro, Itapúa, Concepcion, Paraguarí and Central. Pray for the completion of these teams. 

Venezuela -

1. Praise God for the ministries of evangelism to children and adolescents. Praise Him that those who have received the message of salvation are persevering and believing the promises of the Lord Jesus Christ. 
2. Pray for the provision of food and medicine.

Bolivia Shoebox Distribution

Pray with Operation Christmas Child during National Collection Week

Sign up to Pray for Operation Christmas Child during National Collection Week. Click the link PRAYWITHOCC and select the times you would like to pray November 14-21st!!! #praywithOCC

31 Days of Prayer Operation Christmas Child - Day 17

It's day 17 of 31 and today we are praying for the safe delivery of millions of shoebox gifts during transportation and for the National Leadership Teams to be granted tax-free importation from their governments.

And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. 1 John 5:14

Shoeboxes are delivered so many different ways just check out the photos below to see a few of them!

31 Days of Prayer Operation Christmas Child - Day 16

Today is day 16 of 31 days of prayer.  We are praying for safety of volunteers who will be working in over 4,500 Drop-off locations around the country! To find a drop-off location near you click here: Drop-Off Locations 

Northeast Arkansas may drop off their shoeboxes at:

First Free Will Baptist Church, 5407 Stadium Boulevard, Jonesboro, AR 72404 (870)932-8069
Mon Nov 14 2016: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m.
Tue Nov 15 2016: 1 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Wed Nov 16 2016: 1 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Thu Nov 17 2016: 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Fri Nov 18 2016: 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.
Sat Nov 19 2016: 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Sun Nov 20 2016: 2 p.m. - 4 p.m.Mon Nov 21 2016: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

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31 Days of Prayer Operation Christmas Child - Day 15

Day 15 of 31 days of prayer for Operation Christmas Child leading up to National Collection Week. Today we are praying for the children who will be participating in THE GREATEST JOURNEY discipleship program to have a clear understanding of what it means to have a relationship with Christ.

James 1:22-25: But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.

 For more information on The Greatest Journey click here: TGJ Almost 2 children per minute accept Christ as their personal savior through The Greatest Journey Discipleship 12 lesson program!!!

The Greatest Journey - Mexico

Mongolia TGJ - At the end of the 12 lessons each child receives a Bible in their own language and a diploma!

TGJ - Panama

TGJ - Fiji

31 Days of Prayer Operation Christmas Child - Day 14

We are on day 14 of 31 days of prayer for Operation Christmas Child leading up to National Collection Week.  Today we are praying for our "2016 National Collection Week 24/7 Prayer" to engage in effective prayer coverage for Operation Christmas Child.  Coming soon there will be a link to sign up online. You may choose as many 10 minute time slots as you would like to each day November 14-21st.

With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints. (Ephesians 6:18, NASB)

Your prayers are essential to the work of Operation Christmas Child. Our goal this year is to collect 11,222 shoeboxes from Northeast Arkansas. During National Collection Week we will pray for the people packing the boxes, the volunteers who will be collecting, processing, and delivering the gifts, and for the children receiving them.

If you are a prayer warrior, please sign up and pray for OCC.  We are at 78% of our goal of 25,000 Prayer Network Partners from the USA for the year. "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18.

Become a Prayer Network Partner at: OCC Website

September weeks 3 & 4 Pray for Operation Christmas Child

During the 3rd week of September we are praying for Moldova, Poland and Romania.

Moldova’s request is: Pray for the children who have heard the Gospel through OCC and the follow-up work with them. Click here for a video link: Moldova OCC Video

Poland’s requests are:
*Pray God will provide a new vision for OCC in Poland. Pray that He will open the hearts of more children and their families.
*Pray for wisdom as the team prepares for the national volunteer meetings in Sobieszowo.

Romania’s request is: Pray God will provide someone to serve as a volunteer leader in the Moldova area. For Livia's Romanian Shoebox Story click here: Shoebox Stories! 

Romania Operation Christmas Child Distribution

During the 4th week of September we are praying for Serbia and Slovakia. 

Serbia’s requests are:

OCC Distribution Serbia

* Pray God will bless the children who receive the shoeboxes and their parents. Pray they will accept God and follow Him.
* Pray the volunteers and other believers are able to teach the children how to apply biblical principles they learn through TGJ to their everyday lives.
* Pray for the new national volunteers as they begin to serve in their new roles.
* Pray the people from the new Roma house group that formed after the distributions will increase in the wisdom and revelation of the knowledge of God.
* Pray OCC will reach more children in the coming season.

Solovakia is a locked central European state south of Poland. Only 1% of the over 5 million population is Evangelical Christian. There are 20 different people groups that speak 13 different languages. Slovakia’s requests are:
* Pray for the new OCC season in Slovakia. Pray many children will become true disciples of Christ through TGJ.
* Pray God will open the doors for OCC Outreach Events to occur in the places God has put on the heart of the local church pastors.

* Slovakia Shoebox Testimony: Dominika was raised in Slovakia, and her family was very poor. When she was four years old, her father left them, and her mother had no money to buy gifts for Christmas. That year, Dominika received a shoebox gift from Operation Christmas Child. For the first time, as she read the note in her box talking about Jesus' love, she felt that someone loved her. 

For the History of Operation Christmas Child Timeline Click Here: https://www.samaritans-purse.org.uk/who-we-are/our-history/history-of-operation-christmas-child/ 

Pray with Operation Christmas Child August 21-27th

Week Three: August 21-27^th This week we are praying for Mexico, Nicaragua and Panama.

Mexico –  Shoebox gifts collected in the United States in 2015 will be delivered to 755,386 children in Mexico. Praise God that over 8,914,400 children have received a shoebox since 1995, when Operation Christmas Child began distributing gifts here. Mexico has 121.7 million people and is located in North America. 28% of the population is 14 years old or younger.

1.       Pray that God would reveal His choice for the next National Coordinator role and that OCC leadership would have clarity in the selection process.

2.       Pray the team reaches their goal of having 33 Regional Leadership Teams to cover the entire country.

3.       Pray the national Connect conference where volunteers gathered for equipping and prayer, which was held from July 27 – 30, has a lasting impact on the leadership teams.  Pray for continued fellowship and spiritual edification as the teams prepare for the 2016/2017 season.

4.       Praise God for allowing OCC to operate throughout Mexico.

5.       Pray for the upcoming TGJ classes. Pray for the teachers and children who will be involved with the program this year. 

Nicaragua - Pray for the vision casting meetings and the wisdom in the recruitment of a new National Leadership Team.

Panama - Shoebox gifts collected in the United States in 2015 will be delivered to 121,320 children in Panama. Praise God that over 1,236,400 children have received a shoebox since 1996, when Operation Christmas Child began distributing gifts here. Panama has 3.6 million people and is the southernmost country of Central America

27% of the population is 14 years old or younger.

1.       Pray God will pour out His mercy and forgiveness to Panama and free it from the AH1N1 virus that is attacking the country and has already killed 22 people, including some children. Pray for divine healing.

2.       Pray God will continue to add members to the prayer teams in each region until the goal of a prayer team in each local church is achieved.

3.       Pray for all the preparation for the national Connect conference when our volunteers will gather for equipping and prayer in August in Panama.  Pray God will pour out His Holy Spirit and His power to each person who will attend.  Pray they will feel his presence in a tangible, supernatural way, resulting in miracles in their lives.

4.       Pray for the distribution events, especially for the clarity of the Gospel presentations.

5.       Pray the TGJ teachers boldly deliver the lessons so that the children’s faith in Jesus will be affirmed.

Panama

"And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us." 1 John 5:14

August 14-20th Pray with Operation Christmas Child

MIDSOUTH Requests:

1. Pray for our Prayer Network Goal. We Have Reached 41% of Our 25,000 Prayer Network Partner Goal! We have 10,384 Current Prayer Network Partners in the USA. SIGN UP HERE: PrayerNetwork #praywithOCC
2.  Continue to pray for new churches to partner with us as drop-off locations and for new churches and community groups to pack shoeboxes.
3. Pray for upcoming events this fall: Kick-offs, countdowns, project Leader workshops and Full Circle Speaker tours.
4.  Pray for shoebox goals: Mid-South 820,001, U.S. 9.5 million and World-wide 12 million.

NEA Requests:

1. NEA Shoebox Goal for our7 counties is: 11,222 Gospel Opportunities!!!!!
2. Lift up all of our students and teachers as they will be Back to School THIS WEEK!

International Prayer Requests: This week pray we are praying for Grenada, Haiti, Honduras, and Jamaica.

1. Praise God for the safe delivery of millions of gift-filled shoeboxes to countries around the world including many sensitive countries.
2. Pray for customs clearance and tax exemption of the remaining sea containers filled with shoebox Gospel Opportunities in six sensitive countries in Africa, South Asia and East Asia.

Grenada - Shoebox gifts collected in the United States in 2015 will be delivered to 3,708 children in Grenada. Praise God that over 47,000 children have received a shoebox since 2003, when Operation Christmas Child began distributing gifts here. Grenada has 110 thousand people and is located in the southeastern Caribbean Sea. 24% of the population is 14 years old or younger.

Devin from Grenada

1. Pray for the new Ministry Partners, TGJ teachers and those who facilitate discipleship programs. 
2. Pray for a successful discipleship program in new areas and islands reached.  
3. Pray for the young disciples that will be graduating this season. 
4. Pray for local ministry partners who will help distribute shoebox gifts. 
5. Pray for a great spiritual harvest following the Operation Christmas Child distributions. 

• DEVIN’s SHOEBOX STORY “My shoebox caused me to take my relationship with Christ seriously” - https://www.samaritanspurse.org/operation-christmas-child/shoebox-stories-devon-and-a-shoebox/ 

Haiti - Shoebox gifts collected in the United States in 2015 will be delivered to 32,993 children in Haiti. Praise God that over 787,415 children have received a shoebox since 1996, when Operation Christmas Child began distributing gifts here. Haiti has 10.1 million people and is located in the Caribbean. 33% of the population is 14 years old or younger.

Haiti Operation Christmas Child

1. Pray for the new members of the National Leadership Team and that they would be well equipped to face the challenges of the country. 
2. Pray God continues to meet the project’s needs. 
3. Pray for the teachers. Pray God uses them in a powerful way. 

• Story from Haiti: Pen Pal Prayers: A teacher whose class received gifts said: “There was a girl who really wanted to have someone that she could exchange a letter with. Before they distributed gifts in the school, she was praying to have a pen pal. When she opened the gift, there was a letter from a girl about her age. With tears in her eyes, she told me excitedly, ‘God has answered my prayers!’”  

Honduras - Shoebox gifts collected in the United States in 2015 will be delivered to 194,112 children in Honduras. Praise God that over 2,288,400 children have received a shoebox since 1996, when Operation Christmas Child began distributing gifts here. Honduras has 8.7 million people and is located in Central America. 34% of the population is 14 years old or younger. 

1. Pray for the integrity of the churches; pray each OCC partner church during this new season will understand the vision and work according to the established guidelines. 
2. Pray for the 2016-2017 new season. Pray God will provide prayer warriors with a calling and willingness to pray for the children participating in the OCC program. Pray every child who hasn’t been reached will hear the message of salvation. 
3. Pray for the distribution events. Pray the Gospel is clearly presented to the children. 
4. Pray for the TGJ teachers. Pray they will boldly deliver the lessons, thus affirming children’s faith in Jesus. 

• Stories From Honduras - Making Disciples: “After an Operation Christmas Child distribution, a pastor from Barrio San Juan Intibuca wrote: “We had 20-25 adults attending our church, but then it increased to 40 people, including adults and children. We now have a Bible study with the new children attending our church. Operation Christmas Child helped us meet families and start discipleship. It encouraged us to start a mission downtown because of the contacts we have after the shoebox gift distributions.” 

  

  Honduras Operation Christmas Child

Jamaica - Shoebox gifts collected in the United States in 2015 will be delivered to 11,796 children in Jamaica. Praise God that nearly 825,500 children have received a shoebox since 1995, when Operation Christmas Child began distributing gifts here. Jamaica has 3 million people and is located in the Caribbean Sea. 28% of the population is 14 years old or younger.  

1. Pray the ministry of OCC will advance this year even as crime and violence seems to be on the rise. 
2. Praise God for His provision this past year. 
3. Pray as the team continues to extend OCC into new areas. 

   

   Jamaica Operation Christmas Child Delivery
   

   "Be persistent and devoted to prayer, being alert and focused in your prayer life with an attitude of thanksgiving." Colossians 3:2