Over half a million children around the world will have the opportunity to hear the Gospel thanks to the generosity of Canadians this past Christmas season. 

Operation Christmas Child (OCC) numbers are in from the 2018 campaign. Supporters across Canada lovingly packed 517,437 shoeboxes with a wide variety of items.

The OCC collection centre in Winnipeg received 15,831 boxes. Meanwhile, Manitobans as a whole donated 36,164 shoeboxes.

Shoeboxes are often filled with important hygiene and educational items, toys, and even tools. 

During the next few weeks, children in Central America, Haiti, west Africa, and Ukraine will be receiving shoeboxes packed by caring Canadians.

“Each shoebox that someone fills is an opportunity to show hurting children that they are loved by God and that He wants them to trust in His Son, so they can spend eternity with Him in Heaven,” said Randy Crosson, director of OCC Canada. “We are extremely thankful to Canadians, many of whom are unemployed or facing significant economic uncertainty, for their generosity in continuing to support this vital ministry year after year.”

OCC says when boxes are distributed the good news of Jesus is also shared in a variety of ways.

"When it is culturally appropriate, we will present the Gospel to all children at shoebox distribution events. Many parents or guardians attend these events and also hear the Gospel. We will offer children The Greatest Gift, a colourful storybook that shares the message of salvation. The booklet (available in more than 80 languages) shares 11 Scripture stories and invites children to follow Christ. Shoebox recipients can take The Greatest Gift home to share with family and friends."

Children are also invited to participate in OCC'S 12-lesson evangelism and discipleship program, the Greatest Journey. 

Upon completion of the program children attend a graduation celebration. There they are presented with a New Testament in their language. It is often the first copy of God’s Word the child or their family have ever owned. 

According to OCC over nine million children have chosen to follow Jesus through the Greatest Journey program in the last nine years. Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child has collected and hand-delivered more than 167 million gift-filled shoeboxes to children in over 130 countries hurt by war, poverty, natural disaster, disease, and famine.