02 Dec Christmas Child – One (Make That Two) More

First UB Church (Van Wert, Ohio)
Number of Shoeboxes: 18

Sue Miller of Van Wert UB writes, “The Operation Christmas Child shoebox ministry is a group effort at our church. Our children from the AWANA program collected items for eight boxes. Our youth group brought in supplies to pack four more. Several families in our church filled the other 6, and many people helped to sponsor them. We brought all the boxes to the altar and asked a child or youth to stand next to each box as we prayed for the children and families that would receive these gifts. We have participated in Operation Christmas Child as a church for about ten years.”

Criders UB Church (Chambersburg, Pa.)
Number of Shoeboxes: 71

Chip Stottlemyer of Criders UB writes, “We had a shoebox packing party and the Kids Club, Youth Group, and many adults joined in wrapping and packing for our shoeboxes. A team of youth and some adult leaders delivered them and some extra items to the regional collection point and assisted there along with about 100 other people sorting and packing more boxes. What a blessing to be part of this ministry.”

30 Nov 20 Shoeboxes = 1 Cream Pie

Lake View Church (Camden, Mich.)
Number of Shoeboxes: 110

Ben Gladhill (right), associate pastor of Lake View, writes: “This is Lake View Church’s 9th year doing Operation Christmas Child. Each year we do a pretty good job at collecting items for our shoeboxes and filled shoeboxes. This year we collected 110 shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child. However this year we threw in a twist.

“As Associate Pastor at Lake View and AWANA commander, I challenged our Awana Clubbers to get in on the action. So I told them for every 20 shoeboxes they filled by November 2, I would take a pie to the face. Our Awana clubbers and leaders jumped on board and filled 40 shoeboxes from Awana alone this year. So I kept good on my end of the deal and took 2 whipped cream pies in the face. It was a lot of fun, as you can see from the video above.”

Sunfield UB Church (Sunfield, Mich.)
Number of Shoeboxes: 65+

Annie Emmons (right) of Sunfield writes: “I provide the people with the ready-made shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child. Last year I challenged each adult class to make a box. Our Sunday school class, JOY (Just Older Youth), couldn’t decide if they wanted to do one for a boy or girl, so they did one for each this year. So many articles were brought in that we ended up with 4 from our elderly class! And all the money for the boxes was provided too! I was so proud of them all!

“We all enjoy doing the boxes, and can only imagine the happiness of the boys and girls that receive them. We look forward to doing this each year! Some grandparents have their grandchildren go shopping for items to put into the boxes, and then fill the boxes. Everyone enjoys this project! Last year our church did 62 or 63, and I was afraid with the economy as it is, it would be less this year. But God provided and we topped that number! Praise His name!

Atlantic Avenue UB Church (Franklin, Pa.)
Number of Shoeboxes: 150

East Washington UB Church (Ashley, Mich.)
Number of Shoeboxes: 10,000

You read that right: 10,000 shoeboxes!!!

Kathy Stahl of East Washington writes, “We were really blessed by being able to send off over 10,000 shoeboxes. Ted and Michelle Beck were the people with the dream and led us to the goal. Last year we sent over 5000 shoeboxes, so Ted’s dream doubled and our community was blessed by his vision.”

Little Jacob Sheets helped pack these shoeboxes at Shepherd of the Valley UB.

Shepherd of the Valley UB Church (Logan, Ohio)
Number of Shoeboxes: 187

Veronica Sheets of Shepherd of the Valley writes, “As a church family we collected different items throughout the year. Then we as a whole church held a shoebox-packing day. We ate lunch, and then we got to work. In a matter of just a couple of hours, we packed 187 shoeboxes. Then they were loaded up on our pastor’s truck and taken to our drop-off location. In the photo is a little guy who helped pack the boxes, His name is Jacob Sheets.

29 Nov And Just a Few More Shoeboxes

Here are a few more churches that participated in Operation Christmas Child. This adds to the previous listings here, here, here, and here. We still invite you to tell us how many boxes your church filled.

Barton Road UB Church (Meadville, Pa.)
Number of Shoeboxes: 15

Mt. Zion UB Church (Wayne, Ohio)
Number of Shoeboxes: 108

Gayle Thorn of Mt. Zion writes: “Our collection included shoeboxes made up by a local college softball team, shoeboxes made up by each of our Jungle Zone classes (kids age 3-5th grade), and shoeboxes made up by our congregation at large. Our total number of shoeboxes is nearly double what we collected last year.” Cindy Bonham adds, “We put up a Christmas tree up and put the labels on as tags. Also purchased the shoeboxes and had them put under the tree for everyone to take. We were very pleased with the outcome. Went from 60 boxes from last year to 108 boxes this year. So glad we could help out.”

Living Water UB Church (Winchester, Va.)
Number of Shoeboxes: 17

Ebenezer UB Church (Greencastle, Pa.)
Number of Shoeboxes: 352

Pastor David Grove writes, “Our church family once again showed their great love and compassion for those in need by exceeding the goal of 350 shoeboxes. The 2010 goal was set at 250, and God blessed with 265 shoeboxes. We feel very strongly that every box that is filled is not only a gift for Christmas but represents a soul for the Kingdom of Heaven. We praise God that we have an opportunity to take part in this wonderful ministry, and we look forward to what 2012 brings.”

Park UB church (Bluffton, Ind.)
Number of Shoeboxes: 51

28 Nov And Yet More Shoeboxes!

Every year, dozens of UB churches participate in Operation Christmas Child, a ministry of Samaritan’s Purse. Several thousand shoeboxes are sent by UB churches to children around the world. We invited churches to tell us how many shoeboxes they collected. We have posted results here, here, and here. We still invite you to tell us how many boxes your church filled.

Daytona UB Church (Holly Hill, Fla.)
Number of Shoeboxes: 1376

Pastor Chuck McKeown (right) writes, “We collected boxes from several other churches as well as our own. The total was about 100 more than last year.” Several youth helped package the boxes for shipment.

Kunkle UB Church (Kunkle, Ohio)
Number of shoeboxes: 18

Stryker UB Church (Stryker, Ohio)
Number of Shoeboxes: 60

Pastor Nick Woodwall (right) says, “The Stryker church has collected shoeboxes for several years. The people were particularily enthused about it after viewing the DVD about Operation Christmas Child.”

Bethel UB Church (Elmore, Ohio)
Number of Shoeboxes: 86

Fran Overmyer of Bethel writes, “The younger children went shopping for things to put in the boxes. In past years we had someone who packed shoeboxes all year round. However, she is not able to do that anymore due to health reasons. The other boxes filled were brought in individually and also one person had a shoebox-filling with her granddaughters, daughter, and a couple of friends. They did 70+ boxes. We have participated in this for about 15 years.”

Avlon UB Church (Bremen, Ohio)
Number of Shoeboxes: 50

Pastor Chuck Wheatley (right) reports, “We have enjoyed participating in this program since it first began. One lady picked up 6 boxes at her hair salon. For the last few years she had told her hair dresser that we did this program, and they have donated boxes for the past 2 years.”

Shiloh Community Church (Tiverton, Ontario)
Number of Shoeboxes: 412

Shiloh UB’s involvement in Operation Christmas Child was mentioned previously. Donna Doern, who heads up the program for the church, added the following:

“We do our shoe boxes as a joint effort from our small rural church. About 25 people attend per Sunday. Everyone brings/buys different items needed for the boxes and we complile them into sections–school supplies, personal care items, clothing for different sizes, fun stuff like stuffed animals, toys, etc., hard candy, and balloons.

“This year we did our project over the summer months and set up the basement of the church to accomodate the items coming in. We made up the boxes and in each box put a sticker inside that read ‘cheque in other box’ so the head office would not waste time looking for payment in that box as we write one cheque to cover the entire amount of boxes. We also put the boy/girl stickers on the boxes ahead of time as well to save time at the end.

“All you had to do was indicate the age category on the front of the box on the sticker. Then the fun began. A few of us went up several times during the hot summer days to work on the preparation for packing the boxes. One of our 87-year-old ladies came faithfully to unpackage crayons, toothbrushes, pencil crayons, etc. She even put together some of the boxes and labelled them. She was a wonderful help in all avenues of the adventure. She took great delight in seeing the finished product, as at the top of each box was a stuffed animal or doll which completed the smile both for her and for the child receiving the box.

“We all had great fun seeing the new items coming in weekly to add to our collection for the shoeboxes and to see the number of shoeboxes growing.

“To help fund the shipment cost of $7 per box, we have a ladies Friendship luncheon in May. The ladies are most generous in their giving, knowing the cause and the number of smiles that will be created by the gift of the boxes. We usually raise enough money to send at least 200-300 boxes. Further funding comes from either yard sales or from the men of our church who contribute in many ways as well.

We always stress that this not any sort of a competition, but rather a blessing the Lord is using us in helping others in countries and places unknown to us. He is channelling donated items and funds for the project simply through us and we are more than willing to work alongside Him. We count it a blessing and privelege to be a part of so many smiles on so many childrens faces worldwide.”

How About Your Church?
How many Christmas Child shoeboxes did your church collect this year? We’d like to share that on UBCentral for other churches. We even have a form you can use to report what your church did with Operation Christmas Child.

27 Nov Still More Shoeboxes!

Gene and Lana Wolfe head up Operation Christmas Child for Praise Point. Here they are with the 2011 shoeboxes.

Every year, dozens of UB churches participate in Operation Christmas Child, a ministry of Samaritan’s Purse. Several thousand shoeboxes are sent by UB churches to children around the world. We invited churches to tell us how many shoeboxes they collected. We have posted results here and here. We still invite you to tell us how many boxes your church filled.

Praise Point Church (Willshire, Ohio)
Number of Shoeboxes: 261

Melina Agler (right), church secretary, writes: “Praise Point has been preparing shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child since the church opened its doors in 2006. Each year the boxes are placed at the front of the church on the last Sunday they are received, and a time is set aside to have special prayer for those that will receive these gifts. This year the children of the church gathered with the pastor at the front of the sanctuary for prayer, each child taking a box to hold during the prayer. The junior church children (ages 3-5th grade) also prepared 20 boxes to add to the boxes received from the congergation.

“Gene and Lana Wolfe have been chairing this project for several years. They begin collecting shoeboxes and small items as soon as the last year’s boxes have shipped. Several of our church family have also gone to North Carolina to help pack boxes for shipping, and will be going again this year.”

Mill Chapel (Reedsville, W. Va.)
Number of Shoeboxes: 73

Pastor Marshall Woods (right) writes, “We simply put out the challenge to be involved in outreach. We also are working to provide for some families that are going through difficult times.”

Blue Rock UB Church (Waynesboro, Pa.)
Number of Shoeboxes: 77

Rosie Baer of Blue Rock says the number was down from last year, “but we still praise the Lord for the response.”

Hillsdale UB (Hillsdale, Mich.)
Number of Shoeboxes: 115

Quiggle Rick of Hillsdale UB writes, “We’ve been giving out shoeboxes and information since the beginning of October at a table at the back of the Worship Center. We use the videos Samaritan’s Purse provides to show during offering, in addition to doing announcements & slides. We also have several teachers who will take the party packs and do boxes with their children. This year we will also have two people making the trip to North Carolina to help get the boxes ready to ship. We’re so excited!”

Mt. Olivet UB (Mt. Solon, Va.)
Number of Shoeboxes: 15

Fonda Cassidy (right), a layperson from Mt. Olivet, writes: “Our WMF ladies collect for Samaritan’s Purse. Some pack them together with family and or friends. It is so exciting to take them to the place where they are being packed into tractor trailers and readied to go to the distribution center in North Carolina. Thousands of shoeboxes, knowing that you had helped, even in a small way is just so wonderful!”

Salem UB (Chambersburg, Pa.)
Number of Shoeboxes: About 85

Arthur Page (right), pastor of Salem UB, writes: “We encouraged one shoebox per church family. Our youth guy, Slugg, aka Daryl, did a children’s moment during Sunday morning service with the kids to show them how to pack a box and to encourage them to coerce their parents into letting them do one as a family project. Also our youth group went to the local Samaritan’s Purse packing center where they had a great time volunteering with people from other local churches!”

Salem Chapel (Junction City, Ohio)
Number of Shoeboxes: 168

Pastor Joe Leighton writes: “In addition, we are sending a team of 6 adults to Boone, NC, to help pack and ship Christmas boxes. We have been sending a team of adults to Boone for the past 7 years. Two of the past 4 years we have sent a second team of teenagers from the youth group. One of our adult team members, Bill Morgan, was selected to go to Honduras this past February to help distribute the shoebox gifts to some of the rural villages.”

How About Your Church?
How many Christmas Child shoeboxes did your church collect this year? We’d like to share that on UBCentral for other churches. We even have a form you can use to report what your church did with Operation Christmas Child.

25 Nov More and More Shoeboxes

Members of Shiloh with the 160 boxes collected in 2007, their first year.

Every year, dozens of UB churches participate in Operation Christmas Child, a ministry of Samaritan’s Purse. No doubt several thousand shoeboxes are sent by UB churches to children around the world.

We invited churches (and still invite you) to tell us how many boxes they filled.

Shiloh UB (Tiverton, Ontario)
Number of Boxes: 413

Brian Magnus, bishop of the UB Church in Canada, reports that Shiloh UB, a small country congregation of about 25 people, filled 413 shoeboxes his year!

Donna Doern, from Shiloh UB, added: “We still had some funds available for shipment costs, and decided to use that money to send $500 to Turn on the Tap through Samaritan’s Purse. Also another $500 to the feeding program in Haiti. We concluded our pledge today for the David and Melissa Kline family with nearly $2,200 as well.” Here’s an online article about Shiloh’s participation.

Dillman UB Church (Warren, Ind.)
Number of Boxes: 185

Pastor Dick Case (right) writes: “We have been collecting the shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child for a few years now. Each year we have increased the number of donated boxes. The goal was set at 150 this year; we dedicated 185 boxes on November 13. Our Wednesday evening children’s programs packed boxes, as did many families in the church. We praise God that we were able to send a good number of boxes. We will set our goal higher for next year.”

Fort Wayne, Ind.
Number of Boxes: 1056

Tim Hallman (right), pastor of Anchor Community Church, writes: “The five UB churches of Fort Wayne/Allen County are collaborating together in their support of Operation Christmas Child. Those churches are Zanesville UB, Emmanuel UB, South Scipio UB, Union Chapel UB, Anchor UB. Four of the churches have been involved with OCC–some for a few years, others for quite a few.

“This year, 1056 shoeboxes were filled by four of the five churches. Next year all five churches plan to participate. Our goal is to collect at least 1100–maybe even 1200!

Lancaster UB Church (Lancaster, Ohio)
Number of Boxes: 94

Victory Chapel (Liberty Center, Ohio)
Number of Boxes: 32

Arlys Ross, wife of Pastor Don Ross, writes: “This year Victory Chapel became an official Drop-Off Site for Operation Christmas Child. We discovered there were no drop-off sites in our area, so we decided to change that situation. Altogether, 160 shoeboxes were dropped off at our church last week. Our goal was to have 100 boxes, but God blessed the children with an extra 60 boxes.

“I encourage anyone who has to travel a distance to deliver their shoeboxes to look into becoming a drop-off site. Our people were excited about doing this, and we are excited for next year too.”

College Park UB Church (Huntington, Ind.)
Number of Boxes: 925

Deb Swihart (right), business manager at College Park, writes: “College Park has been the collection point in Huntington County for many years. This year we surpassed the several year’s collection total by over 300 boxes. What a blessing from the Huntington Community for Operation Christmas Child!”

How About Your Church?
How many Christmas Child shoeboxes did your church collect this year? We’d like to share that on UBCentral for other churches. We even have a form you can use to report what your church did with Operation Christmas Child.

22 Nov The Harvest of Shoeboxes

Every year, dozens of UB churches participate in Operation Christmas Child, a ministry of Samaritan’s Purse. No doubt several thousand shoeboxes are sent by UB churches to children around the world.

We invited churches (and still invite you) to tell us how many boxes they filled.

Ebenezer UB (Greencastle, Pa.)
Number of Boxes: 352

Daryl Shaffer of Ebenezer UB writes: “A challenge was made to the congregation by our Pastor, David Grove, to increase the number of boxes that were collected last year (268 boxes). Members of the congregation had a yard sale to help with the $7 shipping cost on the boxes, and our Missions Commission covered part of the shipping cost as an incentive to fill more boxes. Between the two, there was no shipping cost to the congregation. A total of 352 boxes were collected.

Idaville UB (Gardners, Pa.)
Number of Boxes: 32

Stuart Johns (right), pastor of Idaville UB, writes: “We have a missions center in our church that the Outreach Commission maintains. Every couple of months the focus of the missions center changes, but each time there is a way that our people can give to missions.

“During October, the missions center was focused on the Operation Christmas Child and the collection of shoeboxes. Announcements were made each week to encourage our congregants to consider putting a shoebox gift together for a child.

“On Sunday, November 13, we encouraged everyone who participated in the program to bring their shoeboxes with them and place them on a table at the front of the sanctuary. During both services we had a time of prayer over the shoeboxes, asking God to use them to encourage children around the world and that they would be open to the Gospel message that is shared with the distribution of the shoeboxes.”

Trinity UB (Fostoria, Ohio)
Number of Boxes: 119

Samuel Suman (right), pastor of Trinity UB, writes: “This was our first year participating as individual box builders. In the past we collected the ‘stuffings’ and gave them to one person to fill and process them. This year each person filled one or more boxes and placed them in the sanctuary.

“Last Sunday, November 20, we gathered around the front placing our hands on the boxes, praying for each child who will recieve a box. What a difference! Plans for next year are to fill and send 200 boxes. All for Jesus!”

Anchor Community Church (Fort Wayne, Ind.)
Number of Boxes: 60

This is the third year Anchor has participated. On November 13, people brought their filled shoeboxes and set them on a table in the foyer. At the end of the service, while the worship team led in the final song, the children of the church, with the help of a few adults, carried all of the boxes down the center aisle and laid them on the altar.

How About Your Church?
How many Christmas Child shoeboxes did your church collect this year? We’d like to share that on UBCentral for other churches. We even have a form you can use to report what your church did with Operation Christmas Child.

22 Nov How Many Shoeboxes Did Your Church Collect?

Every year, dozens of UB churches participate in Operation Christmas Child, a ministry of Samaritan’s Purse. Parishioners fill shoeboxes with items for a child, then the shoeboxes are taken to a collection center and forwarded to Samaritan’s Purse. Somewhere in the world, a child eventually opens that box.

November is the time for collecting the shoeboxes. We’ve heard verbal reports about churches collecting their boxes–sometimes a few dozen, sometimes hundreds.

How many Christmas Child shoeboxes did your church collect this year? We’d like to share that on UBCentral for other churches.

We even have a form you can use to report what your church did with Operation Christmas Child.

21 Nov Nathan Boggs Reporting from Laurel Mission

Nathan Boggs (right) called the national office on Wednesday, November 16.

Nathan is director of Laurel Mission in Big Laurel, Kent. He has held that position since October 2010, when his father, Titus Boggs, went on medical leave. Titus passed away on August 29, 2011.

Nathan is a busy guy. In addition to his responsibilities with Laurel Mission, which includes preaching at the Little Laurel church, he works fulltime for the Harlan County Farm Bureau in Harlan, Kent.

Nathan also reported that he and his wife, Lindsey, were in their seventh day as the proud parents of a newborn baby.

Nathan and Lindsey live in Big Laurel, about 3 miles from the mission house. His mother Debbie, along with three sisters, still live in the mission house and are very active in the work of the mission. Debbie, in fact, is associate director of Laurel Mission.

10 Nov Hillsdale Church Buys Out a “Courageous” Showing

On Thursday, October 27, 2011, Hillsdale UB church (Hillsdale, Mich.) filled the local theatre to view the movie “Courageous.” Pastor Les Smith (right) had previously approached the theatre manager and purchased all 180 seats. On Sunday, October 23, he showed a couple of clips from the film during both worship services.

Afterwards, members of the congregation snatched up the discounted tickets. Many bought extra tickets to invite persons who don’t attend Hillsdale UB, so there were many guests at the film showing, too.

Thursday at 7 pm was chosen for the film event, because the church was kicking off a new men’s ministry with Assimilation Pastor Travis Ambrose at the exact same time one week later. Postcard invitations were passed out to all men at the theatre before the show.