Monday, March 16, 2009

Samaritan's Purse Update

Back in 1993, Samaritan's Purse collected the first shoe box gifts in North America for Operation Christmas Child. The idea of collecting thousands of gift-filled show boxes for young war survivors in Bosnia sounded daunting at the time, but also presented an exciting opportunity to share the Gospel. In that first year, we were amazed to collect 28,000 boxes. Praise God, since then we have received close to 70 million gift-filled shoe boxes, including nearly 8 million in 2008! This past year we delivered gift boxes to children in over 100 countries.

Every box represents a precious child of God in need of a Savior. Shoe boxes are handed out through local churches that offer our Gospel booklets to children in their own language. Through our follow-up discipleship program, well over 2 million boys and girls have committed their lives to Jesus Christ.

Thanks to compassionate people like you, many more hurting children and their families will hear the Good News of the Savior. "You shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins." (Matthew 1:21b, NKJV). We appreciate your dedication to Operation Christmas Child and ask that you keep this ministry in your prayer throughout the year. May God richly bless you.

Sincerely, Franklin Graham
Samaritan's Purse

Victory sent out 123 boxes. The Rochester area did 10,130 boxes, which exceeded our goal. Next year we have been asked to be a relay center for the Rochester area.

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