An Operation Christmas Child ministry partner thanks God for using a gift-filled shoebox in the life of a 12-year-old boy, who, years later, joined the pastor in hosting outreach events.
The first time Pastor Sixto led an Operation Christmas Child outreach event he had no idea how it would be received. All he knew is that he desperately wanted to reach more boys and girls in his community with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Now, 10 years later, Operation Christmas Child has become such a hallmark of his ministry that he’s fondly known as the “pastor of the boxes” because he’s handed out so many shoebox gifts at these events.
“Operation Christmas Child has been a great blessing. It provided the resources for children’s ministry,” he said.
Pastor Sixto unpacks The Greatest Gift Gospel booklet for one of the children at an Operation Christmas Child outreach event.
Pastor Sixto isn’t hosting the festive, child-friendly, and Gospel-centered celebrations on his own. Sharing the Good News with girls and boys in the Viña del Mar area of Chile is a churchwide effort, with members of his congregation helping prepare for outreach events and serving during them.
Among those who faithfully serve is 18-year-old Johan whose life was transformed when he received a shoebox gift at the church six years ago.
A Transformative Gift
Johan remembers the day when Pastor Sixto led the 1-2-3 countdown before the children opened their gift boxes. The room was quiet, and then all of a sudden boys and girls were screaming with delight and holding up toys for everyone to see.
After receiving an Operation Christmas Child gift as a 12-year-old, Johan, now age 18, is a part of sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ with other shoebox recipients in his town.
“It was a wonderful moment and an exciting day,” Johan said.
His favorite item was a soccer ball, as he had to leave most of his personal belongings, including his ball, in Colombia when the family moved to Chile.
Johan’s favorite item in his shoebox gift was the soccer ball because he had to leave his own behind when he moved to Chile.
Before the outreach event, Johan had been struggling with the family’s move to a different country. Although he knew that his parents brought him and his younger brother to Chile to pursue a better life, it was still challenging. The language wasn’t the same and sometimes his peers made fun of him. He was shy and making friends didn’t come easy.
But the outreach event turned out to be a pivotal moment that set Johan’s life on a course of significant transformation. When he received his shoebox gift, he couldn’t help but wonder: Why would someone send a gift to a child they had never met?
Johan (center) embraces his family.
Pastor Sixto explained to Johan that every shoebox gift was lovingly packed in Jesus’ Name by someone who wanted a boy or girl to experience the hope of the Gospel. He told Johan that the gift was a tangible expression of God’s love.
“The shoebox was totally a gift—and that was impactful. Receiving it changed my life,” Johan said. “I began to get closer to God.”
Johan wanted to learn more about the God who had sent the special gift to remind him that he was loved and not forgotten. He participated in The Greatest Journey discipleship lessons for children like him who had received a shoebox gift.
“My faith was encouraged because of The Greatest Journey. I learned a lot,” he said. “I wouldn’t have grown in my faith if I had not gotten a box and done The Greatest Journey.”
Johan knew that he wanted other boys and girls to also experience God’s love. He began serving in the church and helping with Operation Christmas Child outreach events.
Johan arranges shoebox gifts for other boys and girls.
“You can find happiness and joy through a simple box. It’s not the box—it’s God behind the box,” he said. “I want kids to know that they can trust God no matter what. My hope is that they will follow God.”
Pastor Sixto is thrilled at how Johan has grown into a role model and mentor. “We want to reproduce leaders like Johan. He has made a tremendous impact in the church.”
Johan studies the Word of God with his younger brother, Samuel.
A Mother’s Prayers Answered
Johan’s mother, Zuly, never doubted that he would love and serve Jesus Christ. She believed the promise God had given her during pregnancy that her son would be used for His glory.
Johan and his mother, Zuly, present the Gospel to boys and girls who are about to receive shoebox gifts.
The Lord’s promise to Zuly was especially meaningful since she struggled with infertility. Still, she continued praying that she would be blessed with children. She recognizes that Johan’s life, and that of her youngest son Samuel, are precious gifts from God.
Seeing Johan involved in the church and Operation Christmas Child brings her a lot of joy. She also delights in how her son’s relationship with God gave him strength during the family’s move to Chile.
Johan reflects on Christ’s sacrificial death on the cross as he views a poster supplied by Samaritan’s Purse.
Looking back on her own childhood, Zuly remembers the difficult days growing up with a mother who wasn’t kind. Zuly’s father was killed when she was 7 and she felt very alone.
Zuly didn’t become a Christian until she was an adult, after hearing the Gospel shared on a Christian radio station. “God filled the space of the earthly father that I didn’t have,” she said.
She is grateful that God used Operation Christmas Child and The Greatest Journey to draw Johan to Himself at a young age. She is thankful that his teenage years have been remarkably different than hers because he knows the joy of the Lord.
“I pray that he never leaves God’s side,” she said.
Pray for Johan and the millions of other children discipled through The Greatest Journey program to continue to bear fruit for Christ’s Kingdom.
National Collection Week is coming Nov. 17-24! Don’t miss the chance to bless children around the world by filling an ordinary shoebox with items that will delight their heart. Be sure to make it fun, full, and personalized!
