Pray with Operation Christmas Child, March 15-21, 2017

NEA REQUESTS:

• Pray as we seek the Lord’s direction for the next Area Coordinator for our team. 
• Pray for a new Collection Center Coordinator 0(central drop off leader) and Collection Center (Central Drop-Off Location). Pray for God to reveal who and where this need to be in NEA very soon. 
• Pray for Vicki Pepper (our Mid-South Regional Manager) as she helps NEA and travels to fills in the voids where teams are missing leadership all over the mid-south.
• Pray for our 2017 Shoebox Gospel Opportunity Goal for the 7 counties of NEA that will be released soon!!!

Mid-South Requests:

• The Lord to raise up key leaders for multiple developing teams. 
• A smooth upcoming re-commitment process for year-round Connect Volunteers. 
• Provision for volunteers who will be attending the Global Connect Conference in April.

International Prayer Requests that each country faces:

• Wisdom to recruit, select and lead new and/or transitioning volunteer leadership team members. 
• Provision of resources and the person who leads this area so they are able to reach their God-sized goals for the current year.

We are continuing to pray for the Middle East, Africa, Russia, Europe, Central Asia and South Asia this week. Specifically, the following are prayer requests from each country:

Middle East and North Africa

1. Pray God will appoint a Prayer Mobilization Coordinator for the volunteer regional leadership team in the north. 
2. Pray the team will be able to obtain tax exemption for this season. 
3. Pray God will give OCC a way to import into the country after last year’s attack from the secret police.

Russia, Europe and Central Asia

1. Pray for the recruitment and selection of a new volunteer National Leadership Team Prayer Mobilization Coordinator. 
2. Pray for The Greatest Journey discipleship program trainings. 
3. Pray for the new house churches that will start after the distributions and The Greatest Journey discipleship program classes this season.

South Asia

1. Pray for God’s immense favor in selecting quality, spiritually oriented Ministry Partners for the 2017-2018 season. Pray for the vision casting meetings the volunteer team will be holding for potential Ministry Partners next month. 
2. Pray for the training sessions. Pray that the vision of OCC will be conveyed clearly and understood by the Ministry Partners and The Greatest Journey discipleship program teachers.

Pray with Operation Christmas Child March 8-14th

March 2017 Week 2 Pray with OCC March 8-14th we are praying for the Middle East, North Africa, Russia, Europe, Central Asia (RECA), and South Asia.

• Praise God for the 38 countries that have received shoeboxes and volunteer teams who are now working diligently through Outreach Events to share the Good News with over 5.7 million children.  
• Pray for the children who are just beginning to hear more about Jesus through The Greatest Journey after receiving their shoebox.  
• Pray for the over 2 million shoeboxes still en route on ships to children in 20 countries.  
• Pray for tax exemption of shoeboxes in 15 countries.  
• Praise for customs clearance of sea containers filled with shoebox Gospel Opportunities in 18 countries.

NEA Requests: 

• Pray as we seek the Lord’s direction for the next Area Coordinator for our team. 
• Pray for a new Collection Center Coordinator (central drop off leader) - hopefully within First Free Will Baptist Church in Jonesboro so we can keep the same Collection Center (Central Drop-Off Location).

Mid-South Requests: 

• The Lord to raise up key leaders for multiple developing teams. 
• A smooth upcoming re-commitment process for year-round Connect Volunteers. 
• Provision for volunteers who will be attending the Global Connect Conference in April. 

International Prayer Requests that each country faces:

• Wisdom to recruit, select and lead new and/or transitioning volunteer leadership team members. 
• Provision of resources and the person who leads this area so they are able to reach their God-sized goals for the current year.

Middle East and North Africa:

1. Pray for the tax exemption process that, in the coming months, children in our country would have an opportunity to hear and respond to the Gospel. 
2. Pray for the Ministry Partners who were trained and are excited to receive gift boxes for the first time. 
3. Pray for the children and the partners who will be ministering to them this season. 

Russia, Europe and Central Asia

1. Pray the Ministry Partners will be able to reach children with the OCC gifts and Good News in remote areas.  
2. Pray God will give grace to believers in the eyes of the government officials so that the latter will not create problems for the volunteer National Leadership Teams and Ministry Partners. 

South Asia

1. Pray for the provision of good partners in areas that are greatly affected by insurgent groups. Pray for wisdom, guidance, and protection as the teams seek these new Ministry Partners. 
2. Pray for God’s mercy and favor as the team searches for the right candidate to support the ministry in an area inhabited by an unreached people group.

Drumroll Please...2016 Shoebox Gospel Opportunity Totals are in!!!

We have an exciting announcement—the numbers are in! Join us in praising God for 11,485,662 shoebox gifts packed in 2016! That's 11,485,662 children and 11,485,662 Gospel Opportunities, packed by all of YOU...WOW!

Please continue to pray for each child receiving these gifts, that they will feel God's love and experience the Good News and Great Joy of Jesus Christ. Since the project began, over 146 million shoebox gifts have been collected and delivered to children in more than 150 countries around the world.

Shoebox gifts collected in 2016 by country: 

United States - 9,121,799

United Kingdom - 872,104

Canada - 664,525

Germany - 388,673

Australia & New Zealand - 346,592

Spain - 41,107

Finland - 37,144

Japan - 13,718

-------------------------------

Total: 11,485,662 Gospel Opportunities

Someone may have been praying for the exact Shoebox Gospel Opportunity that you packed!  Pack a shoebox (or two, or three, or 3000) touch a live and change it forever in 2017! Have you set a goal for how many your family, church or organization will pack in 2017? If so comment below at the end of this blog post-we would be thrilled to hear from you!

Philippines

March Operation Christmas Child Prayer

This month Operation Christmas Child is praying for Sensitive Countries.  Will you join us in prayer?

Praise God for the 38 countries that have received shoeboxes and volunteer teams who are now working diligently through Outreach Events to share the Good News with over 5.7 million children.
Pray for the children who are just beginning to hear more about Jesus through The Greatest Journey after receiving their shoebox.
Pray for the over 2 million shoeboxes still en route on ships to children in 20 countries.
Pray for tax exemption of shoeboxes in 15 countries.
Praise for customs clearance of sea containers filled with shoebox Gospel Opportunities in 18 countries.

NEA REQUESTS:
Pray as we seek the Lord’s direction for the next Area Coordinator for our team.
Pray for a new Collection Center Coordinator (central drop off leader) - hopefully within First Free Will Baptist Church in Jonesboro so we can keep our Collection Center (Central Drop-Off Location) the same this year.

Mid-South Requests:
Praises:
Praise God for a highly successful AC Planning meeting with leader volunteers
Praise God for the area team multiplications which have, and are taking place.
We are thankful to the Lord for the National Coordination Meetings which entailed key 2017 initiatives and encouraging words from OCC Leadership.
Prayer For:
The Lord to raise up key leaders for multiple developing teams.
A smooth upcoming recommitment process for year-round Connect Volunteers.
Provision for volunteers who will be attending the Global Connect Conference in April.

International Prayer Requests that each country faces:
Wisdom to recruit, select and lead new and/or transitioning volunteer leadership team members.
Provision of resources and the person who leads this area so they are able to reach their God-sized goals for the current year.
​
​Specific country requests:
Middle East and North Africa:
Pray for the tax exemption process that, in the coming months, children in our country would have an opportunity to hear and respond to the Gospel.
Pray for the Ministry Partners who were trained and are excited to receive gift boxes for the first time.
Pray for the children and the Ministry Partners who will be ministering to them this season.
Pray God will help the team have a smooth process this year.

Russia, Europe and Central Asia:
Pray God will lead in the process of distributing the gift boxes.
Pray the team will be able to reach children in all of the regions with the gifts.

South Asia:
Pray for the completion of the discipleship program and the graduation events this month.
Pray for the upcoming vision casting meeting and the selection of Ministry Partners this month.
Pray for the safe arrival and custom clearance of 12 containers.
​
​
“Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.” Colossians‬ ‭4:2‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Pray with Operation Christmas Child - January 2017 week 4

Until the end of January we are praying for Suriname, Uruguay, and Venezuela. The specific requests are listed below. Join us in prayer as we lift them up!

Suriname

·         Pray for the recruitment and selection of a new Prayer Coordinator. 

Uruguay

·         Pray for the implementation of the Ministry Partner materials on how to increase the effectiveness of the Gospel presentation to children. 

Uruguay OCC

Venezuela

·         Praise God for His care and provision in the midst of difficult times. Praise God for the strength He has given the team to remain faithful to His calling and work.

·         Praise Him that the children and adolescents who have received the message of salvation are persevering and believing the promises of the Lord Jesus Christ.

·         Pray for peace in Venezuela- that God in His mercy will take control of the situation. Pray the country will experience political changes without bloodshed.

Join the OCC global family in prayer and fasting the first Wednesday of each quarter (starting in February) as we humble ourselves before our Heavenly Father and ask Him to work in the hearts of children impacted by war, poverty, famine, disease and exploitation that they may know Jesus.

The dates for 2017 are:

February 1

May 3

August 2

November 1

A booklet of praises and prayer requests from all Operation Christmas Child countries is published on the Extranet each quarter. This resource is made available at the request of many Prayer Mobilization Coordinators who are interested in receiving it. Feel free to use it or simply refer to your Monthly Prayer Update to pray for one region’s requests.

Pray with Operation Christmas Child - January 2017 Week 3

Will you join us in praying for South America this month? This week we are praying for Panama, Paraguay and Peru.

Panama

·         Pray God will provide a new storage and distribution location for the shoeboxes for this year. Pray against challenges as the teams distribute the shoeboxes to the ministry partners.

·         Pray for the logistics process; pray that all of the communication and work with customs and the port will be handled without any delays. 

Paraguay 

·         Praise God OCC was able to reach the city of Puentesiño, which is difficult to access. Praise Him the team was able to reach over 1,000 children, demonstrating the tangible love of God.

·         Pray God will guide the team to hear His voice and will provide the ideal person to serve as the volunteer National Coordinator for Paraguay.

Peru

·         Pray that the successful church-planting tool of shoebox gifts will continue to multiply. 

Peru June 2016

Peru June 2016

Peru June 2016

Javier is a volunteer with OCC in Peru...the other side of the box, Judy and I are on the NEA Area team in the USA, we met him as our translator when we were on a medical/dental mission trip last summer (June 2016)

Proverbs 3:5 - this hangs on a wall in the church in Neuvo Pachacutec, Lima Peru.

Peru June 2016 - you can NOT send liquid in shoeboxes but we were able to take it on out mission trip, the kids loved bubbles!

Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;

January 1-14, 2017 Operation Christmas Child Prayer South America week 1 & 2

Prayer Reminders

Prayer is what opens the heart of a child to the redemption available through the blood of Jesus. Franklin Graham says, “The most important item you can send in a shoebox is prayer.” Faithful prayers are what allows the journey to accomplish its intended purpose. What a glorious opportunity we have to participate in his plan.

                                See our new OCC Prayer Video and share it with your friends.

This month we are praying for South America

General Prayer Requests each country faces:

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

·            Provision of resources and the person who leads this area so they are able to reach their God-sized goals for the current year.

MID-SOUTH PRAYER REQUESTS:

·              Pray for the new Mid-South Regional Director Todd Edwards as he transitions to the region January 3rd.

·              Praise God for the many gospel opportunities that He blessed our region with in 2016!

·              Pray for Godly wisdom for Mid-South staff and Area Coordinators as they begin planning for 2017.

·              Please continue to pray for prospective volunteers who are showing interests in serving with OCC on their local Area Teams as year-round Connect volunteers.

·              Pray for all National Leadership Teams as they begin receiving and distributing shoeboxes.

·              Pray for the many children who will receive shoeboxes and as they have the opportunity to attend The Greatest Journey.

NEA Prayer Requests:

• Pray for our area team as Vicki Pepper, our Regional Manager, as she will be helping our Area Team until we have a new Area Coordinator. 
• Pray for Melinda Dixon and her mom as she is healing. Pray for blessing on Melinda as she is a care giver for her mom and as her work load increases - she had to resign, with heavy heart as our AC and will be greatly missed.

PRAISE ITEMS:

1. Millions of shoebox gifts packed by prayerful donors are on their way to children in over 100 countries. God has allowed Operation Christmas Child to reach more children this year than any previous year with the precious gift of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 
2. Praise God for the 11 countries that have already received their 2016 season shoeboxes and for the volunteer teams now working hard in Outreach Events to share the Good News with over 200,000 children. 
3. Pray for the over 6 million shoeboxes on the way to children in 43 countries 
4. Prayer is what opens the heart of a child to the redemption available through the blood of Jesus. Franklin Graham says, “The most important item you can send in a shoebox is prayer.” Faithful prayers are what allows the journey to accomplish its intended purpose. What a glorious opportunity we have to participate in his plan.

Argentina

Argentina OCC

·         Praise God for the completion of the volunteer National Leadership Team this year.

·         Pray for the children enrolled in The Greatest Journey in the cities of Buenos Aires and Corrientes to grow in discipleship. 

Bolivia

·         Praise God for the honor of preparing pastors and teachers, as well as mobilizing churches, for the spiritual formation of the new generations that will come to know God the Father.

·         Pray that in this season, God will open the doors to reach new unreached communities where the Gospel has previously been inaccessible. 

Bolivia OCC - The Greatest Gift Book

Brazil

·         Pray for an opening in the bureaucratic process to allow the importation of shoeboxes in the future.

·         Pray for wisdom for the volunteer team in the city of Recife as they plan for future seasons.

·         Pray for the contacts that will be made with new churches and ministries in the Northeast of Brazil for this year. 

Chile

·         Praise God for the more than 5,000 children who received Christ in 2016. 

Colombia

·         Pray for the vision castings, as well as the Ministry Partner and The Greatest Journey trainings that occurred throughout the various regions in Colombia for greater effectiveness. 

Ecuador OCC

Ecuador

·         Praise God for the largest and most effective national volunteer conference in the country held recently.

·         Praise God for the provision of various gift-in-kind donations for storage of the OCC materials.

·         Pray for wisdom in navigating the government bureaucracy that comes with managing a large amount of boxes in the country.