Friday, November 20, 2015

Call to Prayer Day 5 ~ Operation Christmas Child

Pray for the children who enroll in The Greatest Journey follow-up discipleship program, that they will come to faith in Jesus and share the Good News with their friends and family.  

Our Purpose is to bless kids and share the true meaning of Christmas the Good News of God’s Love and Salvation through His Son, Jesus Christ. Shoeboxes are a Gospel Opportunity to show Christ’s love and tell the salvation message to kids around the world. Shoeboxes are lovingly and prayerfully packed with gifts that bring delight to a child. In the hands of local churches, every gift-filled shoebox is a powerful tool for evangelism and discipleship—transforming the lives of children and their families around the world through the Good News of Jesus Christ! After receiving shoebox gifts, boys and girls are invited to enroll in The Greatest Journey, 12-lesson discipleship program where they learn what it means to faithfully follow Christ and how to share their faith with others. Upon on completion of TGJ, they have a graduation service and receive a New Testament Bible in their own language. 2.8 million children have participated in TGJ as of 2014. On average 1.86 children per minute accept Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior through The Greatest Journey Discipleship Program!!!! 
Haiti - TGJ Classes

Thursday, November 19, 2015

Call to Prayer Day 4 ~ Operation Christmas Child

Pray that every girl and boy who receives a shoebox will experience God’s unconditional love and provision through the gifts they receive.

We deliver good news and great joy to millions of children around the world through the gift of a simple shoebox. Operation Christmas Child has delivered over 113 million boxes as of 2014. We have 11 sending countries including the USA, Canada, United Kingdom, Austria, Australia, Finland, Germany, Liechtenstein, New Zealand, Spain, & Japan and over 500,000 volunteers worldwide. We deliver the Gospel Message through the power of a shoebox to over 130 countries and territories on 6 continents including: Kenya, India, Philippines, Ecuador, Haiti, Iraq, China, Republic of Georgia, Sudan, Asia, Russia, Uganda, Nicaragua, Kosovo, Bosnia, Croatia, Rwanda, and Ukraine and many more.  These gifts have the power to change a child's life FOREVER!  

You can read about Shoebox Stories where children share about receiving their special gifts at: SHOEBOX STORIES online. It will make your heart smile!
"Everything in my shoebox was special. I really liked the school supplies. I was really excited that I had a set of 10 pencils!" ~ Yuri received a shoebox in an orphanage in Honduras at age 6. 

Wednesday, November 18, 2015

Call to Prayer Day 3 ~ Operation Christmas Child

Today will you pray that every child who receives a shoebox gift will have the opportunity to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 
Each shoebox has "The Greatest Gift" in the child's native language where it has been translated!  The Greatest Gift Bible Storybook that is told from John the Baptist perspective introducing Jesus and explaining Jesus as the Greatest Gift. It also explains terms like Grace, Authority, the Tomb, Sin, the Cross, Lord, Heaven, and Eternal Life. It tells about Jesus calming the storm, Lazarus coming back to life when Jesus calls him from the grave, Feeding of the 5000, the Creation, Jesus as our Good Shepherd, Jesus being arrested, the Resurrection, the Upper Room & Jesus’ Appearance to Disciples, and it ends with the sinner's prayer outline plan of salvation. Pray this precious book grasps each child's eyes and heart and takes root to teach them about a relationship with their Heavenly Father.


Tuesday, November 17, 2015

Call to Prayer Day 2 ~ Operation Christmas Child

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.

"In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation." -Psalm 5:3


If you wonder why we do it, every day boys and girls worldwide suffer from war, poverty, disease, and natural disasters. Each box is a Gospel Opportunity. Operation Christmas Child makes it possible for millions of children to experience God’s love through shoeboxes filled with gifts. The boxes open the door for presenting the Good News of Jesus Christ and the salvation message by working in and through local churches to distribute to boxes.

November Week 3: Pray for Russia, Eastern Europe, Central Asia "RECA"  and for Sensitive Countries where Christianity is illegal! November 15-21st:
1. Pray the delivery and clearance of the shoeboxes is completed before Christmas this season.
2. Pray the Ministry Partners use the Christmas and New Year’s season as an opportunity to share the Good News.
3. Pray for the Ministry Partner trainings.
4. Pray the volunteer National and Regional Leadership Teams are able to reach new territories with the OCC project.

Monday, November 16, 2015

Call to Prayer Day 1 ~ Operation Christmas Child

It is finally National Collection Week! We have a goal of 11 million shoeboxes from our sending countries including Canada, the USA, the United Kingdom, FInland, Germany, Austria, Liechtenstein, Spain, Japan, Australia and New Zealand. 8.6 million is the goal for just from the USA! The Mid-South (Arkansas, Tennessee, & Kentucky) Goal is 737,000. From Northeast Arkansas' 7 counties we hope to collect 10,200 Gospel Opportunity Shoeboxes.  Let us give thanks and praise the God of the harvest who can do immeasurably more than we can image!  Let the collections begin!

"But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26 ESV

Today, ask God to bless local volunteers who serve to collect, process, transport, and deliver shoebox gifts around the world.


      STOP and pray during the moment of prayer TODAY at 2pm!





Sunday, November 15, 2015

31 Days of Prayer for Operation Christmas Child - Day 31

Day 31 has arrived...I can't believe the month of prayer for Operation Christmas Child has come to an end.Today we are asking for you to pray that Operation Christmas Child will continue to be a powerful tool for churches and pastors around the world as they share Christ in their communities.

Tomorrow begins National Collection Week...please be in prayer for this very special week and for all the volunteers that will be collecting shoeboxes and shipping them to the Processing Centers around the USA before sending them to precious children around the world.  One more rally call from me...tomorrow starts the last push for prayer with the 7 Days of Call to Prayer for OCC. You may choose 30 minute time slots available every hour of the next 7 days to pray for specific requests during National Collection Week. You will receive an email with the specific daily requests. You may do it from your home, work or even your shower or car while driving to work! Click on the link to sign up today! CALL TO PRAYER SIGN UP 

"Be persistent and devoted to prayer, being alert and focused in your prayer life with an attitude of thanksgiving." Colossians 4:2
"For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” Matthew 18:20

Saturday, November 14, 2015

31 Days of Prayer for Operation Christmas Child - Day 30

It's day thirty and we have almost made it through the 31 one days of prayer for Operation Christmas Child. Today join us in praying for VOLUNTEERS to have a positive experience while working in the Processing Centers and to know the ETERNAL impact of their service! God can take our efforts and multiply them into so much more!
In the hands of local churches, every gift-filled shoebox is a powerful tool for evangelism and discipleship—transforming the lives of children and their families around the world through the Good News of Jesus Christ!

  • Each Shoebox Shares the Good News of Jesus Christ - As shoebox gifts are distributed, local pastors or church leaders present the Gospel in a fun way designed for kids while family and friends listen in. Along with their shoebox gift, children also receive The Greatest Gift, a colorful presentation of the Gospel in their own language. 
  • Shoeboxes bless children with joy, hope, and love - Their shoebox is the first gift many children have ever received! The treasures and personal letters inside communicate that someone cares for them and give them an opportunity to experience the love of God. 
  • Shoeboxes give a church an effective outreach tool - Local churches use gift-filled shoeboxes as a tangible inroad for evangelism. The shoebox gifts allow them access to places they might never be welcomed otherwise. 
  • Shoeboxes makes disciples through the local church - After receiving shoebox gifts, boys and girls are invited to enroll in The Greatest Journey, our 12-lesson discipleship program. They learn from trained local volunteers what it means to faithfully follow Christ and share their faith with others. 
  • Shoeboxes multiply as children share their faith with friends and family - Even before The Greatest Journey course is over, students begin witnessing to others. Then at graduation, the Gospel is shared with their friends and family again. The graduates also receive a New Testament to use personally and in communicating their faith to others. 
  • Shoeboxes grow congregations and plant new churches worldwide - Through the efforts of local believers on our National Leadership Teams, entire communities are being evangelized as shoebox gifts are delivered. Some of these areas do not have any existing church.
"Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen." Ephesians 3:21-21