ST. CHARLES – FBC St. Charles is one of more than 4,000 Operation Christmas Child (OCC) drop-off locations across the US scheduled to be open Nov. 16-23. Recently, Janet Howard, St. Charles Area Team coordinator for OCC, shared with the Wednesday evening congregation about her recent trip to Zambia to distribute shoeboxes to the children.
“I got involved with Operation Christmas Child because of mission trips to Honduras,” Howard said. “When I saw the great need, God impressed me that I had to take Jesus outside of the church, and OCC gives me that opportunity. When I went to Zambia, it changed my life and my ministry.”
Howard explained how the gospel is presented with each distribution. “We present the gospel in a kid-friendly way,” she said, “and we give each child ‘The Greatest Gift’ booklet written in the child’s language, and they devour it while waiting to open the box.”
Howard described an older teen who was given a copy of the booklet. “He stood off to one side reading about Jesus,” she said. “He was soaking it up. His friends walked over to look at it, but he would not be distracted. These children are hungry for the message that Jesus is the gift.”
The impact of the shoeboxes reached far beyond the children. “We ministered to the national pastors,” Howard said. “With tears in their eyes, they told us how important these boxes are as tools to reach families. They were on their knees praying for us.”
Pat Moore, FBC St. Charles member and church relay center coordinator, described the impact of Howard’s presentation. “Janet’s slides and talk really woke us up to the needs of the kids,” she said. “We could see how poor they are, but the need for the word of God is overwhelming.”
According to Buddy Perstrope, senior pastor, Operation Christmas Child gets everyone involved. “It is a mission opportunity that gets every person, every family involved,” he said. “We invest in something bigger than our self and to be a part of sharing the gospel to the world.”
Moore also discussed her work with the OCC relay center. It is such a blessing. The first year, I did it with much trepidation, but I loved it. Now, it is easier to get repeat volunteers because they experience the great joy.”
Perstrope agreed with Moore about the relay center workers. “We have a dedicated group of volunteers committed to seeing the gospel spread and the gifts going out to the children.”
Perstrope also said Operation Christmas Child was a personal ministry for his family. “We have four boys,” he said, “and each of them shares a shoebox for a child to learn about Jesus.”
