31 Days of Prayer for Operation Christmas Child - Day 12

Today pray for God's hand and wisdom in recruiting volunteers during National Collection Week to become more involved in Operation Christmas Child.

It’s not for the money, it’s not for fame

and it’s not for any personal gain.

It's for love of fellow man,

It’s just to lend a helping hand.

It’s just to give the tithe of self.

That’s something you can’t buy with wealth.

It’s not the medals worn with pride.

It's just for that feeling deep inside.

It’s that reward down in your heart.

It’s the feeling that you’ve been a part

Of helping others far and near,

That makes you a VOLUNTEER.

Connect to Your Calling:

Connect Volunteers serve year-round to expand the Kingdom of God through the ministry of Operation Christmas Child. These dedicated volunteers come together around the country to serve in the specific areas of Prayer Mobilization, Church Relations, Community Relations, Media Relations, and Logistics. Opportunities are available to use your gifts in these areas. To serve as a Connect Volunteer with Operation Christmas Child, click the link and fill out the Year-Round Volunteer Interest Form 

"For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us" Romans 12:4-6

Also today pray for Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago. Suriname is on the Northeast coast of South America, between Guyana and French Guiana, north of Brazil. It has 26 people groups with 20 languages. 14% of the population is Evangelical Christian. Trinidad and Tobago are two islands off the coast of Venezuela in South America.  They have 15 people groups with 7 languages.  13% are unreached.  20% of the population is Evangelical Christian.  The nation’s racial diversity could also be considered a racial divide. Inter-ethnic harmony is hindered by racially aligned politics.  Pray that the government may be impartial and fair to all ethnic groups and that the culture of corruption and bribery would be exposed and eliminated. The Church is one of the only structures connected to every community, and therefore has enormous but unrealized potential to bridge the racial divide. Pray that churches would be instruments of reconciliation and demonstrate that all are one in Christ.
Specific requests for Suriname:
1. Pray for unity among the OCC national volunteer members and that they will be able to meet their personal ministry goals for OCC.
2. Pray for wisdom as the team develops their strategic plan.

Specifically for Trinidad and Tobago:

1. Pray against the idol worship in the country. 

2. Pray the people will seek forgiveness from God and heal the land. 

3. Pray for the spiritual growth of the prayer partner.

31 Days of Prayer for Operation Christmas Child - Day 11 and 31 Days of Prayer & Fasting for FWB Missions

Pray for Operation Christmas Child Project Leaders across the country as they involve many people in outreach through Operation Christmas Child this season. Teach your children about caring for others as the extend God’s love to a boy or girl in need.

The mission of Operation Christmas Child is to demonstrate God’s love in a tangible way to needy children around the world, and together with the local church worldwide, to share the Good News of Jesus Christ.

 As we continue 30 Days of Prayer and Fasting for FWB International Missions I want to share part of today's email:

DAY 26: Giving of Ourselves First
One essential factor in giving is the attitude with which we give. Another factor of great importance is our spiritual condition. Simply stated, if our hearts are not right with God, then what is the real value of the offering? It appears clear that offerings given unwillingly are not acceptable in the sight of God. We can also confidently say we should repent of any sin in our hearts before presenting our tithes or offerings. One other factor we need to consider is resolving any conflict between us and another believer before putting our offerings in the plate.
It seems we have almost come to the point that it doesn’t seem to matter what your heart condition might be as long as you give. Perhaps, some serious teaching needs to be done about what makes our offerings acceptable or unacceptable.
As much as we need funding, it is imperative that giving to the cause of world outreach comes from a pure and willing heart.
Amos 5:21-27, Malachi 1:9, 2 Corinthians 8:12, 13:3

Pray for a spirit of self-sacrifice among Free Will Baptists. Ask God to help each of us practice obedient giving. 

31 Days of Prayer for Operation Christmas Child - Day 10

Pray that the children and families will be encouraged by the Family Tours at the Processing Centers.

A small shoebox can have a big impact. What goes into the box is fun, but what comes out of it is eternal. Be a part of changing children's lives all over the world in Jesus' Name through the power of a simple gift with Operation Christmas Child.  As you pack your shoeboxes with gifts, here are some specific ways you can pray and encourage others to pray...

1. Toy Car – Pray for Transportation of your shoebox Gospel Opportunity: These shoeboxes have many miles to travel before they reach their destinations. “Lord, please protect these boxes and those involved with providing safe transportation.”
2. Toothbrush or Hygiene Items – Pray for the health of the child who is receiving this shoebox. “Lord, give this child good health and protection from disease and harmful conditions which may affect their well-being.” 
3. School Supplies – Pray for their education: Many children cannot go to school without the simplest of school supplies. “Anoint the school supplies that have been packed in these shoeboxes, that the children can learn and thrive as they grow to work good jobs with good wages to provide for their families.” 
4. Water Bottle, Bowl, Cup, or Spoon/Fork – Pray for their Nutritional Needs: Many children who receive shoeboxes suffer from malnutrition and hunger. “We ask you, Lord Jesus, that the physical needs of this child be met, that their food would be plentiful and nutritious, and that their bodies would be healthy and strong.” 
5. Toys/Teddy Bear/Stuffed Animal – Pray for JOY: “Dear Jesus, may these fun items bring JOY to these children. We ask that happiness and joy transfer to their families, church, and community. Let these shoebox gifts be a tangible representation of LOVE!”  
6. The Greatest Gift (it's added by Operation Christmas Child) - Pray for Spiritual Needs: “Jesus, we pray for the spiritual needs of each child. May you already be preparing their hearts to hear Your Gospel message. We ask that each and every child comes to know you in a personal way and declares you as their Lord and Savior.”  

You may also make these six gifts into prayer cards to display as an example of how donors can pray strategically for their own shoeboxes during their drop-off experience at businesses, churches and relay centers. Add the cards to the specific items using tape and place it on display for everyone to see! These are great to place in your church to encourage prayer as shoeboxes are packed and collected prior to national collection week! If you want a file of the card templates, just send me your email and I will send them to you!

31 Days of Prayer for Operation Christmas Child - Day 9

Pray for "Follow Your Box" technology to work well and be used by donors to know the destination of their gift-filled shoeboxes. 

Donate $7 online for each box you are sending and receive a tracking label. Attach the label to your shoebox, and OCC will track it and send an email about the country where your box will be delivered with the message of Christ’s love.  As you checkout, print your unique label or save it to your computer.  If you’re sending more than one girl or boy box, use the same label. Print or copy as many as you need.  Take care not to cover the barcode with tape or damage it in any way as this can affect scanning. If your label is ripped or separated from the shoebox in the packing process, it may prevent us from tracking your gift.  You will receive an email for each destination country for your shoeboxes. If your boxes go to only one country, you will only receive one email. 

http://www.samaritanspurse.org/operation-christmas-child/follow-your-box/?redir=follow-your-box-iframe

31 Days of Prayer for Operation Christmas Child - Day 8

Today join me in praying for success of the National Leadership Teams in securing donated resources, such as transportation services and warehouse space.  We need to store and ship these precious gifts!

31 Days of Prayer for Operation Christmas Child - Day 7

Today please pray for Processing Center locations to be finalized and for all needed equipment to be delivered in a timely and safe manner.  Prayer is the foundation of Operation Christmas Child and is at the center of all we do!  It is our desire for every detail of the project to be covered in prayer from start to finish.  Please make praying for OCC a priority for the next month as Satan will attack our efforts.  We are on Day 7 of our 31 days of prayer journey, but it won't end there.  We will continue to pray for OCC year-around and the power of the shoebox Gospel Opportunities.  Thank you for your faithfulness to pray for the ministry!  It is one of my passions and I love what I do, almost as much as I love being a wife, mom, and pastor's wife!

31 Days of Prayer for Operation Christmas Child - Day 6

Today pray that Operation Christmas Child will bring HOPE to the hopeless, JOY to the sorrowful, and Christ's LOVE to the lost--both to the children who receive the shoebox gifts and to their families.  What goes in the box is FUN...but what comes out is ETERNAL!!!