Boxing Up Hope with Operation Christmas Child
Jesus Calling: Stories of Faith
Jesus Calling
4.6 • 1.3K Ratings
🗓️ 28 October 2021
⏱️ 27 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
On this week’s episode, we’ll hear from three people with special connections to the Samaritan’s Purse project Operation Christmas Child, which collects shoebox gifts filled with toys, school supplies, and hygiene items, and delivers them to children in need around the world to demonstrate God’s love in a tangible way. For many children, this shoebox is the first gift they’ve ever received. Bill Pfister, the senior regional director of OCC for the Americas and the Caribbean, gives some insight into the mission and inspiration behind the organization, and how they’re seeking to show God’s love in a tangible way.. Vladimir Prokhnevskiy, a shoebox recipient, grew up in Kiev, Ukraine, in an impoverished family of eleven. Vladimir remembers one harsh winter when he and his siblings underwent extensive travel to get to an Operation Christmas Child distribution center, and how that gift impacted his life. Elvina Arventii will share how Operation Christmas Child changed her life as a little girl, and how she’s now volunteering with them, hoping to pay it forward.
Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned:
Past interview: Green family
Upcoming interview: Levi Lusko
Samaritan’s Purse project Operation Christmas Child
Interview Quotes:
“When friends or family members or a local church come together and pack gift boxes and then send them overseas, a child is able to hear about the good news of Jesus in a local church. They are taught that Jesus is the greatest gift they can ever receive and that is a tangible expression of God's love.” - Bill Pfister
“For me [my Operation Christmas Child box] was extra special because it was my first Christmas gift ever. But most importantly, the gospel came with it.” - Vladimir Prokhnevskiy
“Over the years, you forget little details about the shoebox here and there, but you never forget how it makes you feel. And on that day, I felt loved.” - Vladimir Prokhnevskiy
“I have a five year old and an eight year old, Ashton and Elliot, and we pack shoeboxes every single year. It's a family tradition now. It's a great example for my kids because I demonstrate to them what generosity looks like...I want my kids to grow up and be generous because generosity moves people's hearts. Generosity is what unites people, it brings people together. And I want them to grow up to be generous people. And packing shoeboxes helps them become generous.” - Vladimir Prokhnevskiy
“For the first time, I realized that God is real and He can answer even the prayers of a little girl.” - Elvina Arventii
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | We're seeing God just do incredible things through evangelism, through discipleship, and |
| 0:07.4 | we say multiplication because then the church begins to grow. |
| 0:11.9 | Unreach people groups are contacted with the gospel. |
| 0:15.2 | Children learn how to share the good news with others. |
| 0:19.0 | Welcome to the Jesus Calling Podcast. |
| 0:21.4 | Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child, the world's largest Christmas project of its kind, |
| 0:26.5 | has collected and delivered more than 188 million shoebox gifts to children. |
| 0:31.6 | Their goal for 2021 is to collect enough shoebox gifts to reach another 9.7 million children. |
| 0:37.9 | They have nearly 575,000 volunteers worldwide who are involved in collecting, shipping, and |
| 0:43.9 | distributing shoebox gifts. |
| 0:46.0 | On this week's special episode, we'll hear from three people with amazing connections |
| 0:50.0 | to Operation Christmas Child, who share personal stories of how God's love was demonstrated |
| 0:54.3 | to them in a tangible way through a simple gift presented in a colorful shoebox. |
| 0:59.2 | For many children, the shoebox is the first gift they've ever received. |
| 1:07.8 | First up, we'll hear from Bill Fister, who's the Senior Regional Director of Operation |
| 1:11.9 | Christmas Child, also known as OCC, for the Americas and the Caribbean. |
| 1:16.4 | Bill gives us some insight into the mission and inspiration behind the organization and |
| 1:20.5 | how they're reaching children from all over the globe to show them God's love. |
| 1:26.2 | My name is Bill Fister, and I work with Samaritan's Purse Operation Christmas Child as a Senior |
| 1:31.8 | Regional Director for the Americas and the Caribbean. |
| 1:36.0 | I'm married with three children, three grandchildren, a pastor, a missionary, and I've spent a lot |
| 1:43.6 | of time in Latin America and the Caribbean, seeing the gospel shared, disciples made, and |
... |
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