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Spiritual Impact Stories

Communicating God's Love

Mijhan found an assortment of toys and school supplies inside his neatly-wrapped shoe box. But before the 13-year-old boy reached for the miniature cars or the brightly-colored markers, he opened the envelope that lay inside.

As an Operation Christmas Child volunteer helped him read the unfamiliar English phrases, he heard these words: “We can celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, our Savior, God’s only Son, together through this small gift. He loves us both very much. He wants us to love one another no matter where we live.”

Mijhan lives in a Muslim village on Luzon, the Philippines’ largest island. In such communities, words like love and compassion are not often associated with Christians. The influence of Islamic fundamentalism is spreading among the Philippines’ small southern islands, making outreach difficult and dangerous.

Onie, a prominent community member and dedicated Christian, saw tensions growing between the two religious groups and felt compelled to act. She started a feeding program and organized concerts for Muslim children in her community. At a recent Operation Christmas Child distribution, Onie watched as dozens of children received gifts for the first time.

Her work is making a difference. When the volunteer asked Mijhan why a Christian he doesn’t know would send him a gift, he replied, “Because he cares for me. Because he loves the Muslims.”

Mijhan’s reply was an answer to prayer for Tim Collins. Collins is a volunteer youth leader at North Valley Christian Fellowship in Milpitas, California, the church that collected the gifts that were distributed in Mijhan’s village. He said the church’s youth ministry packed dozens of boxes with a two-fold goal. First, they hoped the project would help the church’s teenagers to think beyond themselves. Second, they hoped that each shoe box would make a difference in a child’s life.

“As we were packing shoe boxes, we made sure we weren’t just throwing some stuff in a box,” Collins said. “We also wanted to make sure we were lifting up the kids in prayer.”

Albert Alcorn, North Valley’s youth director, said the group also prayed that recipients would see their authenticity and love.

“We wanted the children to know that we genuinely care for them,” Alcorn said. “We prayed that they would not only be happy and satisfied, but that God would prepare a way for His message.”

Reaching Kids
A church located near a slum had little success attracting people to worship services. After Operation Christmas Child shoe boxes were distributed, the church held an outreach activity for the children. Fifty children started coming to Sunday school. Now about half of those who attend Sunday school come from the slum area.

The Power of a Simple Gift
Reerose was 14 when she received her first Christmas present. She was overjoyed to get a shoe box containing a variety of school supplies—exactly what she needed for her course work.

“It is exciting to know that people like you from the other parts of the world are concerned about our situation here,” Reerose said. “Even my parents were very happy because what I prayed for was granted.”

Jeric received something even more valuable than the gifts inside his box. After enrolling in the follow-up discipleship program, he learned more about the real meaning of Christmas and accepted Jesus as his Savior.

“Before I came to know to know the Lord, I was very bad, disobedient to my parents, and caused much trouble to my brothers and sisters,” he said. “When I came to know Him, I was changed. I learned pray and thank Jesus. I am also not lying to parents anymore.”

Like Reerose, 12-year-old Jeric lives in a poor community. Last year God provided an answer to one of his prayers when a line of electricity was connected to their house. With the addition of electric lights, Jeric spends more time in the evening studying.

“I believe that nothing is impossible to God,” he said. “I believe Jesus loves me and poverty is not a hindrance to my dreams. Jesus is with me! He will guide me as I grow up.”

For millions of children, Operation Christmas Child shoe boxes are tangible expressions of God’s love and constant presence. They are reassured that they have a heavenly Father who cares. And that’s a gift that endures forever!