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

Are You Determined as you start back to school or work tomorrow?

Determination-a quality that makes you continue trying to do or achieve something that is difficult.

“But he (God) said to me (Paul), "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” 2 Corinthians 12:9 ESV

"Walt Davis was totally paralyzed by polio when he was nine years old, but he did not give up. He became the Olympic high jump champion in 1952."

"Shelly Mann was paralyzed by polio when she was five years old, but she would not give up. She eventually claimed eight different swimming records for the U.S. and won a gold medal at the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne, Australia."

"Lou Gehrig was such a clumsy ball player that the boys in his neighborhood would not let him play on their team. But he was committed. He did not give up. Eventually, his name was entered into baseball's Hall of Fame."

"Woodrow Wilson could not read until he was ten years old. But he was a committed person. He became the twenty-eighth President of the United States."

No matter what handicaps you and I may have, God has a place for us within His Body, the Church, and a work for us to do. Nobody ever said it would be easy. What Jesus did for us wasn't easy either. So your mission, should you choose to accept it is: whatever it is that God has for you to do, never give up, for God never calls any of us to do anything that—with His help—cannot be done. Look at your calling for each day. What does God want you to do today? Are you determined to accomplish it? If we accomplish the tasks He has called us to each day then our whole life will be lived following His calling for us, one day at a time! Start each day in prayer and Bible study asking God to show you what is most important for today. Then be determined to accomplish it. As your work week or 1st day of school starts back tomorrow, are you determined to make it the best one yet?

Prayer: Our Loving Father God, please show me what your purpose for my life is each and every day and give me the faith, determination, and perseverance to never give up until my work on earth is done. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, In Jesus Loving Name I Pray, Amen.

( quotes from daily devotionals & ESV Bible)

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

Pray with OCC August week 1, Caribbean, North and Central America

Thank you for devoting your time to praying for the ministry of Operation Christmas Child. Covering this ministry in prayer is what makes it so successful in taking Gospel Opportunities around the world where they learn of the love of Christ through gift-filled shoeboxes, The Greatest Gift and The Greatest Journey. Below is our list of specific requests for August. As always, pray without ceasing!

Caribbean, North and Central America are the countries we will be praying for all month.

Week One: August 7-13th
MIDSOUTH Requests:

1. It is ONLY THREE MONTHS away from National Collection Week and now is the time to ramp up our prayer mobilization to ask God to bring in 820,001 gospel opportunities in the form of shoeboxes. Your role as prayer mobilizers is imperative in ensuring that gospel opportunities are made, delivered, and transported on their way to children in over 100 countries! I challenge you to send this prayer list out to other people and get them to be a prayer partner with OCC too! They don’t have to be a year around volunteer to pray for OCC, I just need an email address and name to send the requests to! Help sign someone up as prayer partner at: operation-christmas-child/prayer-network today!  
2. 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. We must ask God to direct and initiate all we do through OCC; that is where our Prayer Network Partners and Prayer Mobilization Team Members come in! We can make a dent in the schemes of Satan today and claim children in the name of Jesus! How many Prayer Network Partners will you add and mobilize as we enter into our busy season?! Will you join me in praying for BIG things from our Prayer Mobilization Teams in the Mid-South this year! Who’s ready? I am! “And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith”. Matthew 21:22 
3. Continue to pray for new churches to partner with us as drop-off locations and for new churches and community groups to pack shoeboxes. 
4. Pray for upcoming events this fall: Kick-offs, countdowns, project Leader workshops and Full Circle Speaker tours. 
5. 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. Josh and Jill McCarty who were on our Area Team are now Church Planters in Grand Junction, Colorado. They ask that we pray for: the changes their family faces, that they find a rental house, that they are able to build a team of prayer warriors and financial supporters, for Josh’s leadership, for Jill as she adjust to everything new & homeschooling, for their hearts as they miss everyone, and for there to be Great Joy in their new city. 
3. Lift up all of our students and teachers as they will be Back to School next week. May the Light of Christ shine through the Christian Kids and Teachers to influence the lost souls in the schools so that some may come to accept Christ as their Savior.

International Prayer Requests: This week pray we are praying for Aruba, the Bahamas, Barbados, and Costa Rica.

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. 

Specific requests from each country are below:
Aruba - Pray the team is able to connect with the Ministry Partner’s (MPs) and the parents, so that they can successfully reach the children.

Bahamas - Shoebox gifts collected in the United States in 2015 will be delivered to 19,884 children in the Bahamas. Praise God that over 67,892 children have received a shoebox since 2010, when Operation Christmas Child began distributing gifts here. The Bahamas has 324,000 people and is an island country located in the Atlantic Ocean. 23% of the population is 14 years old or younger.

1. Pray the Ministry Partner’s outreach event strategy (Friend to Friend, Focused Outreach, and Broad Outreach) will awaken a renewed passion in the hearts of Christians in the Bahamas to become active in evangelism during the 2016/2017 season of OCC. 
2. Pray the local churches will mobilize and accomplish OCC’s goals for reaching children with the distributions and TGJ. 
3. Pray the children will hear and respond to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Barbados - Shoebox gifts collected in the United States in 2015 will be delivered to 8,088 children in Barbados. Praise God that over 7,929 children have received a shoebox since 2014 when Operation Christmas Child began distributing gifts here. Barbados has 290,000 people and is located in the Lesser Antilles. 18% of the population is 14 years old or younger.

1. Pray God grants the NLT strength and wisdom as they seek to create dynamic children’s ministries. 
2. Pray the children will hear and respond to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Costa Rica - Pray for The Greatest Journey (TGJ) classes that are beginning in public schools. Pray the classes will continue to run well and have excellent results.

Costa Rica 2015

There’s nothing quite like the joy on a child’s face when they receive a gift of love. Shoebox gifts from Operation Christmas Child show children worldwide that they are loved. Simple items like small toys, school supplies and hygiene items are treasures to boys and girls who have very little to call their own. But the real joy is when children learn about the love of Jesus Christ, many for the first time. That is why Operation Christmas Child exists–to deliver good news and great joy through the power of a simple gift. Just look on their faces and see for yourself. This Christmas, remember what true joy looks like. “But Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven'” (Matt 19:14 NKJV). Click here to see: Joy Around The World OCC Photos

July Operation Christmas Child Prayer Requests

NEA OCC Prayer Reminders

- prayer call for the Mid-South Region Tuesday, July 26th at 6pm. Be in prayer for the technology of this call to work and for all those calling in.

- 2016 shoebox season is quickly approaching, pray that it will come together quickly and smoothly and that God will bless our efforts.

- for our Regional Team as they search for a new Mid-South director, as Amy Johnson is expecting her miracle child, due November 1st and will be resigning at that time to stay at home with her baby.

OCC Mid-South Prayer Reminders

• Pray for God to open doors with new churches to partner with us as drop-off locations this year.

• Please pray for God to provide additional Network Coordinators to assist with logistics in our region.

• Continue to lift up our goal of 820,001 Gospel opportunities.

• Please pray for Franklin Graham as he continues with the Decision America Tour. Upcoming events will be held in Oregon, Washington and Alaska.

• Please pray for protection and healing for Mid-South volunteers as many are facing health issues and other issues.

This week we are praying for East Africa. General Prayer Requests each country faces:

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

Burundi's requests: Shoebox gifts collected in the United States in 2015 will be delivered to 97,056 children in Burundi. Praise God that over 198,844 children have received a shoebox since 2008, when Operation Christmas Child began distributing gifts here. Burundi has 10.7 million people and 45% of the population is 14 years old or younger.

• Praise God OCC has continued to bring unity among churches of different denominations.
• Pray for local fundraising, provision of resources, and the commitment of the local volunteers.

Kenya's Requests: Shoebox gifts collected in the United States in 2015 will be delivered to 137,496 children in Kenya. Praise God that over 661,958 children have received a shoebox since 1995, when Operation Christmas Child began distributing gifts here. Kenya has 45.9 million people and 42% of the population is 14 years old or younger.

• Praise God OCC has been able to reach new regions in the country like Kitale.
• Pray OCC is able to reach more new areas in Kenya.

Rwanda's Requests: Shoebox gifts collected in the United States in 2015 will be delivered to 145,584 children in Rwanda. Praise God that over 643,129 children have received a shoebox since 1994, when Operation Christmas Child began distributing gifts here. Rwanda has 12.6 million people and is located in central and 42% of the population is 14 years old or younger.

• Praise God for the opportunity to share the Gospel with over 2,000 children in refugee camps.
• Pray for the many Outreach Events and The Greatest Journey discipleship program (TGJ) and Ministry Partner trainings.

Tanzania's Requests: Shoebox gifts collected in the United States in 2015 will be delivered to 129,408 children in Tanzania. Praise God that over 655,635 children have received a shoebox since 2000, when Operation Christmas Child began distributing gifts here. Tanzania has 51 million people and 44% of the population is 14 years old or younger.

• Praise God for the quick and successful container clearance and for the unloading and transfer of the containers to OCC’s warehouse in Dar es Salaam.
• Pray the children and teachers will complete the TGJ program and that many children will become disciples of Christ.

Uganda's Requests: Shoebox gifts collected in the United States in 2015 will be delivered to 291,168 children in Uganda. Praise God that over 1,352,815 children have received a shoebox since 1996, when Operation Christmas Child began distributing gifts here. Uganda has 37.1 million people and 48% of the population is 14 years old or younger.

• Praise God for the children who have completed TGJ and are now graduating.
• Pray God will provide for needy children in unreached areas.

“And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith”. Matthew 21:21

Uganda

Tanzania

Rwanda

Kenya

Thank you for praying for Operation Christmas Child. Without volunteers this ministry would not be successful. We praise God for over 135 million shoeboxes in the past 23 years, which means 135 million opportunities to share the Gospel with children, families, and communities!!! 

June Operation Christmas Child Prayer Weeks 2-4

Prayer is such an important weapon against the attacks of satan. Small acts of kindness and prayer can change the world when it is done sincerely, with the right heart. Just think, one boy's lunch fed a multitude. One mom placing her baby in a basket to save his life freed a whole nation! Being a prayer warrior for Operation Christmas Child is so easy, yet so important and I am so thankful that you are willing to pray for this great ministry. We can each take these requests and share them with just one other person and just think of the effects it could cause...even your littlest actions could change the world.  It is called the "butterfly effect"- say a butterfly flutters its wings in Jonesboro, Arkansas, will it change the weather in another part of the planet, like Australia? That is the theory of the butterfly effect. So, can one small action cause change in a significant way and in turn cause larger change, and another, and another? I believe with prayer, there is a butterfly effect.  What if we all reach out to others to get more people to pray for OCC? Why, you ask? With only 21 weeks until National Collection Week we need to put on the armor of God and start preparing our region and volunteers to collect over 820,000 gospel opportunities November 14-21. We have a lot to accomplish over the next few months so we need to together lay the needs of our OCC family at God’s feet...where 2 or 3 are gathered in my name...what about 2-300,000 in my name? Please be in prayer for the following request the rest of June and I challenge you to get at least one person to sign up to be a Prayer Network Partner for OCC - all you have to do as a PNP is PRAY about what we send out...EVERYONE that is a child of THE ONE TRUE KING should be able to do that! Here are our requests for the remainder of June!

Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. Jeremiah 29:12

OCC Mid-South Prayer Requests:
* Pray for God to multiply our collection network and to open doors with churches and Pastors.
* Pray for the Mid-South goal of 820,001 Gospel Opportunities.
* Pray that gift boxes and follow up work will have a lasting spiritual effect on the lives of the  children and their families.
* Continue to pray for Franklin Graham and the Decision America Tour

NEA OCC Requests:
* pray for our area team as it grows
* pray for our goal of 11,222 Gospel Opportunities
* pray for all our area churches as they have VBS this summer.
* Kevin & Jennifer Barnett's son, Matthew is in Cuba on a mission trip until June 29th.
* Melinda and Marlin Dixon are on a mission trip to Guatemala until June 25th.
* Jennifer Barnett and a dental/medical team of 28 from NEA will be in Lima, Peru June 22-29.

OCC International Prayer Requests that each country faces:
* Wisdom to recruit, select and lead new and/or transitioning volunteer leadership team members.
* Provision of resources to reach their God-sized goals for the current year.

The next two weeks we will be praying for Equatorial Guinea, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo.

Equatorial Guinea - Pray for the children of Equatorial Guinea who often face premature deaths and epidemics.
Guinea - Pray for the Muslim children OCC is ministering to.
Guinea-Bissau
      *Praise God for strengthening the churches through the OCC ministry.
      * Pray for the Ministry Partners holding the Outreach Events to make        the best use of this ministry for the glory of God. 

      *Pray for easier access so boxes can be delivered to more remote            areas.
Mali - Pray for the north of the country which is not accepting of the Good News.
Senegal - Pray for the children’s churches that have started as a result of the Outreach Events. Pray they will grow and mature.
Sierra Leone - Pray the Ministry Partners holding the Outreach Events to children will apply what they have learned and will take the Gospel outside of the church. Pray for the TGJ classes. Pray OCC will reach its goals for TGJ this year.
Togo - Pray for security from foes as well as false brothers.

How great is the love the Father has lavished on you, that you should be called a child of God! And that is what you are! 1 John 3:1

Click here to become a prayer partner: https://www.samaritanspurse.org/occ-prayers/

June Prayer OCC

OCC Prayer Reminders

* Praise God that 58 countries have received shoeboxes and volunteer teams are now working hard in Outreach Events to share the Good News with over 8.3M children.

* Pray for the shoeboxes still enroute on ships to children in 2 countries.

* Pray for customs clearance of sea containers filled with over 1M Gospel Opportunities in 7 countries.

* Continue praying for The Greatest Journey discipleship program improvements.

 

OCC Mid-South Prayer Reminders

* Pray for God to multiply our collection network and to open doors with churches and Pastors.

* Pray for the Mid-South goal of 820,001 Gospel Opportunities.

* Pray that gift boxes and follow up work will have a lasting spiritual effect on the lives of the children and their families.

* Continue to pray for Franklin Graham and the Decision America Tour as they are holding events in Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Oregon, Washington and Alaska during June.

NEA OCC Requests:

* pray for our area team as it grows 

* pray for Josh McCarty as we say farewell and good luck to His family - June 13th at Melinda's. 

* pray for our goal of 11,222 Gospel Opportunities 

* pray for all our area churches as they have VBS this summer. 

* Kevin & Jennifer Barnett's son, Matthew will be in Cuba June 9-29 on a mission trip

* pray for Melinda and Marlin as they go on a mission trip to Guatemala  June 18-25th. 

* Jennifer and a medical/dental team of 28 will be in Lima, Peru June 22-29. 

OCC International Prayer Requests:

 

General Prayer Requests each country faces:

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

* Provision of resources to reach their God-sized goals for the current year.

This week pray for Benin, Burkina Faso, and Cameroon.  They are all in Africa. 

Benin's Request: 

* Pray for a successful delivery and passage through customs for the last two containers filled with Gospel Opportunities.

 

Burkina Faso's request: 

* Pray for the children as they complete their The Greatest Journey discipleship program (TGJ) classes.

 

Cameroon's request: 

* Pray TGJ will have a great impact on the children and will transform their lives.  Pray the testimonies will be included in the reports. 

"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Matthew 28:19-20.