
By: Kris Deese, Dean of Spiritual Formation
At SBCA, we are striving to cultivate hearts for loving and blessing others through serving and giving. The ministry of Samaritan’s Purse and Operation Christmas Child (OCC) does just that. OCC is an amazing opportunity for our students and their families to get involved in international missions by blessing children from over 100 countries around the world.
Each student has received a printed “Shoebox” with instructions that they have taken home and, as a family, can pack with various items that will bless a child in need.
Not only will each Shoebox contain items of blessing, but each child who receives a box will also be presented with the Gospel message in their own language. In addition, local pastors in each country have been trained and equipped by Samaritan’s Purse to follow up with the individual children and help guide them in their walk with Jesus.
The week of November 9-13 is our Collection Week and our students will be encouraged to bring their Shoeboxes back to school with them so that we can all celebrate their generosity.
The following week, we will transport our Shoeboxes to a local drop-off location as each Shoebox begins its incredible journey to the hands of a child in need.
OCC is such a marvelous opportunity for all of us to lock arms together and partner with God in taking the Gospel message to “the ends of the earth.” Thank you so much for loving, giving, serving, and blessing others with us!