It's Shoebox Time...Here is why I LOVE this ministry!!!

If you need a little motivation as to what and why to put certain things in your shoebox, check out my video!

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

October 2016 Operation Christmas Child Prayer Requests

A Wide Door is Open to the Effective Work

“For a wide door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.” (1 Corinthians 16:9)

The hopelessness a child faces in circumstances beyond their control can be heart breaking. Poverty, human trafficking, exploitation, disease or losing a parent (or parents) due to war are realities the majority of children are experiencing around the world. Your prayers and the simple selfless act of packing a shoebox stuffed with God’s love has opened a wide door for the effective work of the Gospel. This tangible expression of the mercy, forgiveness and the unconditional love of God through local churches continues to receive favor by many countries in Asia. Unity among churches working with Operation Christmas Child is increasing. Almost 39 million shoeboxes have been distributed along with the proclamation of the Gospel throughout Asia – all by faithful and prayerful volunteers.  Pray for the safety, longevity and encouragement of Operation Christmas Child volunteers as they face many adversaries. 

This month we are praying for Asia. General Prayer Requests each country faces is: 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. Also don't forget to be praying for our NEA Goal of 11,222 Shoeboxes during National Collection Week, November 14-21st!!! NATIONAL COLLECTION WEEK IS ONLY 5 WEEKS AWAY!!!!!

Week 1 - Mongolia and Sensitive Countries in Russia, Europe and Central Asia.  Mongolia's Requests:

1. Pray the children enrolled in The Greatest Journey (TGJ) discipleship program will finish well.
2. Pray the national volunteer team will be well-equipped to support the strategic and regional volunteer teams as they minister in their local areas. 
3. Pray for safety and wisdom during the trips the national volunteer team will be taking in each region this season. 

 

Sensitive Countries in Russia, Europe and Central Asia's Requests:

1. Pray for the children who have heard the Gospel through Operation Christmas Child and the follow-up work with them. 
2. Pray the government authorities will look favorably on the project. 
3. Pray Operation Christmas Child receives permission to import shoebox gifts. 
4. Pray God will give the national volunteer teams wisdom, creativity, and the ability to convey the meaning and goal of Operation Christmas Child to all pastors, church workers and volunteers.

October Week 2 Sensitive Countries in Russia, Europe and Central Asia  (continued) Requests:

1. Pray for the friendship between the churches, especially among pastors.
2. Pray for boldness and wisdom for The Greatest Journey teachers and for every discipleship group that has started. 
3. Pray for the long-term impact of Operation Christmas Child in the region. 
4. Pray for the strengthening and training of volunteer leadership teams. 
5. Pray for the timely printing of the New Testament in the local language. 
6. Pray for the distribution of gifts in new areas. 
7. Pray for the children who heard the Gospel and for the follow-up work with them. 
8. Pray the team will be able to receive shoeboxes without customs inspecting every single box, which can take several months.

October Week 3: Sensitive Countries in South Asia's Requests:

1. Pray for the upcoming distribution season. Pray that the government’s many requirements won’t interfere with the distributions. 
2. Pray for the distributions as they will be conducted during the monsoon season due to the delay with the tax exemption. 
3. Pray for the consignees as many governments have begun to scrutinize them as a result of accusations by the majority religion. 
4. Pray for each of the volunteer leadership teams throughout each country. Pray they will encourage the Ministry Partners in spreading the Gospel to children and their families.

October Week 4: Sensitive Countries in South Asia's Requests Continued:

1. Pray for the outreach to refugees from restricted access countries. 
2. Pray for the volunteer teams as they seek to navigate the increasing hostility against Christianity and for their outreach to children. 
3. Pray for the prayer meetings that have been started in the region. 
4. Pray for the clearance of gift boxes as there is opposition to some items. Pray for the continued improvement of the teams’ relationships with the customs officers. 
5. Pray that God will stop the attacks and violence in this country. Pray He will lead the government in stopping the increasing terrorism and targeted killings. Pray God will bless this region and protect His people. 
6. Pray for the discipleship of thousands of children; that God will multiply the fruit of salvation through their lives to their families

Upcoming Prayer Initiatives 

Join our year around Prayer Network: OCC PRAYER NETWORK - We are at 73% of our Prayer Partner Goal!!!!

31 Days of Prayer - Join us for 31 Days of Prayer starting October 14 as we approach Operation Christmas Child’s National Collection Week! Each day’s topics include national and international requests for our volunteers and donors around the world that more children would have an opportunity to respond to the Gospel and participate in The Greatest Journey 12-week discipleship program.

National Collection Week 24-7 Prayer - Your prayers are essential to the work of Operation Christmas Child. During National Collection Week, November 14-21, you can sign up to join our 24-hour prayer coverage. Our goal this year is to collect 12 million shoebox gifts from the United States and nine other countries. Each day has a different prayer point including people packing shoeboxes, the volunteers who will be collecting, processing, and delivering the gifts, and for the children receiving them. Signup for a 10-minute slot and join our 24-hour prayer coverage. Our goal this year is to collect 12 million shoebox gifts from the United States and nine other countries. Each day has a different prayer point, including the donors who are packing the shoebox gifts, the volunteers who will be collecting, processing, and delivering the gifts, the children receiving the shoebox gifts. Look for another blog post on November 7th with a link to sign up for a 10-minute time slot to pray during National Collection Week!

“Pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest” (Matthew 9:38 ESV) through shoebox gifts and The Greatest Journey discipleship program.

More Photos from Mongolia:

Mongolia Shoebox Delivery