Students from Shepherd of the Coast Lutheran School in Fort Lauderdale packed shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child and helped load their “love boxes” onto a truck in November. Earlier students from Trinitas Academy in Plantation delivered “overflowing” Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes packed by the students and their teacher, Allison Maxham.

The next step in the journey for these boxes will include a trip to Charlotte, N.C., where they will be processed and sent out to one of 130 countries. The gifts will bring the Good News of Jesus Christ to needy children in the far ends of the earth. Although their eyes will open wide in fascination and wonder at these amazing “treasure boxes,” it is the prayer of this Samaritans Purse that the shoeboxes will usher in opportunities for their hearts to be open to the gospel, which is presented to each child in a booklet called The Greatest Gift. Last year over 1.1 million children were also able to participate in a 12-week follow up Bible Study program available to the pastors and missionaries who distribute the shoebox gifts. This year the Operation Christmas Child Southeast Florida team prays they will see 60,000 shoebox gifts donated from this area alone For more information visit samaritanspurse.org.