31 Days of Prayer for Operation Christmas Child - Day 17

Pray for the National Leadership Teams to be granted tax-free importation of shoebox gifts from their governments. Our 2015 OCC goal is 11 million shoeboxes to be delivered in over 100 countries!

Many children who live in nations that are difficult to reach with the Gospel are able to hear about Jesus Christ through specially packed shoebox gifts designated for restricted areas. In hard-to-reach areas, these shoeboxes provide a platform for local believers to share Christ in a safe and culturally sensitive way, and allow ease of entry through customs.

Shoebox gifts collected in the United States in 2014 were delivered to 425,000 children living in restricted areas in 14 countries. Many of these were shoeboxes that were built online. (You can built a shoebox online for $25). For the safety of our ministry partners living in these restricted areas, we cannot divulge the names of the countries.

One of our international representatives described the power of these simple gifts:

“In the very restricted environments, we can’t have local believers out being vocal about their faith. A shoebox becomes a key to a closed door. I desire to be involved in the work of love. In the remote areas where people have nothing, where people are dirt poor, this box gives them hope. This is love. True love. This opens the eyes of the people. Jesus said, ‘I am the light of the world. He who follows me will not walk in darkness but have the light that leads to life (John 8:12).’ Through Operation Christmas Child, God has given us the opportunity to penetrate the darkest places in this world and share the Gospel.”

31 Days of Prayer for Operation Christmas Child - Day 16

Pray for safety of  the volunteers who will be working in over 4,000 Collection & Relay Centers around the country. Click the link to find a drop-off location near you!
http://www.samaritanspurse.org/operation-christmas-child/drop-off-locations/

A Special Delivery…Wrapped in Love...

God is in the delivery business––always has been and always will be. In the Bible, the word deliver has rich and varied significance. A primary meaning is “to rescue, save, or draw out” and “to snatch or drag out of danger.” We need to be delivered because we are powerless to save ourselves. Jesus is our Rescuer, our Savior. In extravagant love, the Father sent His Son to deliver us from the darkness and dead-end ways of sin and transfer us into the Kingdom of light and liberty. This eternal transaction is true for all who receive His gracious offer of life and salvation. Deliver also carries the idea of making an announcement or handing over a message. Amazingly, God has invited us to help share the Good News. Through Operation Christmas Child, we have the privilege of delivering this wonderful message to children and their families. The gift-filled boxes that volunteers handle in the Relay, Collection and Processing Centers will find their way around the world and provide an opportunity for children to hear and respond to the life-changing proclamation of God’s love. 

“He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the Kingdom of the Son of His love.” Colossians 1:13, NKJV 

31 Days of Prayer for Operation Christmas Child - Day 15

Pray for the children participating in The Greatest Journey discipleship program to have a clear understanding of what it means to have a relationship with Christ as well as how to share what they have learned and experienced with others.  Two children every minute accept Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior because of The Greatest Journey! 

The Greatest Journey - Haiti

The Greatest Journey - Panama

The Greatest Journey is an exciting discipleship program that teaches children to become faithful followers of Christ. The program is offered to children who have received an Operation Christmas Child shoebox.

Did you know that last year, over 209,000 children learned about Jesus Christ through the Bible study offered to children and their families after we distributed gift-filled shoeboxes in their communities?

This Bible study is called The Greatest Journey, and it is offered freely to children by local churches in the days following a shoebox distribution event, provided we have their parents’ or guardians’ approval, and permission from local authorities.

31 Days of Prayer for Operation Christmas Child - Day 14

Today pray for the 2015 Call to Prayer during National Collection Week to engage as many as possible to pray for Operation Christmas Child.  Sign up for the 2015 Call to Prayer!

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 million shoebox gifts from the United States and nine other countries. During National Collection Week, Nov. 16-23, 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.

Please sign up at

http://www.samaritanspurse.org/operation-christmas-child/call-to-prayer/  

by selecting the dates and times you would like to pray, and your location will be added to the map where you can see where others around the world are joining you in prayer. You may choose as many dates and time slots as you like. Please make sure you see the specific prayer requests for each day, below: Please email occprayer@samaritan.org with questions. 

Please remember the following requests while you pray for Operation Christmas Child during your chosen time slot(s). 

Monday, November 16 - Ask God to bless the volunteers who serve to collect, process, transport, and deliver shoebox gifts around the world.
Tuesday, November 17 - Pray that the Lord will use Operation Christmas Child to bring joy to boys and girls who face difficult circumstances such as poverty, disease, famine, and war.
Wednesday, November 18 - Pray that every child who receives a shoebox gift will be open to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Thursday, November 19 - Pray that every girl and boy who receives a shoebox will experience God’s unconditional love through the gifts.
Friday, November 20 - 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 21 - Pray for the safety of Operation Christmas Child volunteers who are serving in areas of the world that may be hostile toward Christians.
Sunday, November 22 - Thank God for blessing Operation Christmas Child with more than 124 million shoebox gifts over the past 22 years. Pray that millions more children will experience the love of Jesus Christ through these simple gifts.
Monday, November 23 - Pray for the seamless transportation of the shoebox gifts as they are transferred from local drop-off sites to regional Processing Centers.

FOR MORE PRAYER OPPORTUNITIES: click to join the Operation Christmas Child Prayer Network 

31 Days of Prayer for Operation Christmas Child - Day 13

Today pray for the safety of Operation Christmas Child staff as they travel to the Processing Centers to serve this season.

Operation Christmas Child, a project of Samaritan’s Purse, is the world’s largest Christmas outreach of its kind. Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child has delivered gift-filled shoeboxes to over 124 million children affected by war, poverty, natural disasters, and other crises in more than 150 countries and territories. We partner with local churches to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with those who receive shoebox gifts and offer a 12-lesson discipleship program, The Greatest Journey, that helps boys and girls learn what it means to follow the Lord and share their faith with others.

O Father,

You are always there,

For your love reaches everywhere.

Above the clouds,

Beneath the sea,

I know your hand will cover me.

Through the darkened starry night.

Again at dawn when all is bright.

Upon the heavens, or over bridges,

Deepest valleys, rocky ridges.

You beside me, o so close,

Knowing when I need you most.

Through different lands of war or peace,

Where suffering stirs or riches twist

I choose to walk the path you tread.

And carry your wisdom where I'm led.

To leave your love in every place

I rest my head or dine or wait.

You keep me safe, watch over me.

I choose to put my trust in thee.

"Travellers Prayer" by Julie Palmer

“Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows my name. When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him." Psalm 91:14-15

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.