Englewood Baptist Church is packing shoe boxes for Operation Christmas Child

JACKSON, TN (WNBJ)-

These shoeboxes are for a mission called Operation Christmas Child. Thousands of volunteers all across the world team up with Samaritans ministries to fill the shoeboxes and give children a little bit of joy at Christmas.

“Most of these kids are going to get a box from around the world and it literally will be the very first time they have gotten anything for Christmas,” says Englewood Missions Pastor Robin Popplewell.

Englewood baptist church is one of the many groups packing operation Christmas child boxes. Pastor Popplewell says the church is excited to be a part of a goodwill effort that shares more than just the presents with the children,

“It’s not just the toothpaste or the soccer ball or the toothbrush or the comb, those things are fun, the jump rope, but to be able to share the gospel with that child in some manner in their language that’s really the purpose of the operation Christmas child box.”

Pastor Popplewell says he hopes the boxes not only bring the children some joy but also show them the love of god

Since 1993, more than 188 million children in more than 170 countries and territories have received an operation Christmas child shoebox.

In 2020 alone, more than 9.1 million Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts were distributed.

Englewood baptist church hopes to pack 1000 of these operation Christmas child shoe boxes in the next few days.