FOCUS ON THE FAMILY AND OPERATION CHRISTMAS...
Transcript of FOCUS ON THE FAMILY AND OPERATION CHRISTMAS...
FOCUS ON THE FAMILY AND OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD®
PRESENT
A GUIDE FOR SERVING OTHERS
AS A FAMILY
“Christ has no body on earth but yours, no hands but yours, no feet but yours. Yours are the eyes through which Christ’s compassion for the world is to look out; yours are the feet with which He is to go about doing good; and yours are the hands with which He is to bless us now.”
~Saint Teresa of Avila
Serving as a Family ���������������������������� 3Make Giving a Part of Everyday Living ............4
Ideas for Serving as a Family .........................5
Family Devotional ..........................................5
Free Magazine Subscription ...........................5
Serving as a Couple ��������������������������� 6Ideas for Serving as a Couple ........................7
Serving Together as a Couple .........................7
Living Intentionally to Impact Others ...............7
Serving for Kids ��������������������������������� 8Children’s Magazines ....................................9
Kids Like You ................................................9
Build a Box .................................................10
Fun and Inspirational Videos ........................11
© 2012 Focus on the Family
Focus on the Family and Operation Christmas Child have teamed up to encourage your family to be the hands and feet of Jesus year-round
by helping those in need in your community and around the world. We hope you’ll enjoy the ideas and tools we’ve put together and see how easy it is to help your family thrive by making a big difference to someone else. We thank you for that commitment and hope you’ll help share the good news of Jesus Christ by partnering with Operation Christmas Child for years to come—and find ways to keep the spirit of giving alive all year!
Operation Christmas Child ���������������12A Note from Franklin Graham .......................13
Unwrapping a New Life ...............................14
Follow Your Box Around the World ................15
Shoe Box Self-Starters ................................16
Host a Packing Party ...................................17
Packing Party Activities ................................17
Certificate of Participation ............................18
Journey of a Shoe Box Melodrama Script .....19
Prayer Card ................................................20
All About Me ...............................................21
Volunteer! ...................................................23
CONTENTS
SERVING AS A FAMILY
Make Giving a Part of Everyday Living ............4
Ideas for Serving as a Family .........................5
Family Devotional ..........................................5
Free Magazine Subscription ...........................5
Make Giving a Part of Everyday Living
by Dean Ridings, former Editorial Director of marriage content at Focus on the Family
As our four children were growing up, we sought to make giving a part of everyday living. In
the process, we’ve discovered time and again the truth of Jesus’ words, “It is more blessed to give
than to receive” (Acts 20:35).
My wife, Kim, and I didn’t have to look far to find places to give. We started with our neighbors.
We would bake fresh goodies, pack them up and deliver them via red wagon to the families
on our street. Our kids were a bit confused at first as the cookies that they worked so hard to
prepare went into gift packages. But they learned to love the smiles on our neighbors’ faces
come delivery time.
We learned about an organization dedicated to sharing Christ’s love with international college
students by connecting them with “friendship partner” families for meals, events and the like.
Throughout the years, we have opened our home to students from many nations. Our family
especially enjoyed it when some of our new friends made us a special meal prepared in the
Japanese tradition.
We also discovered a host of opportunities through our local church. Our family donated
supplies for the church food pantry and always brought canned goods when the church took
up a special collection for local charities when their supplies ran low.
Finally, Christmas proved a natural time to give. Each year our kids would provide gifts to needy
children through Samaritan’s Purse ministry Operation Christmas Child and another program
that provided Christmas presents to kids in the names of their imprisoned parents. These
organizations helped us come together as a family as we shopped, selected and wrapped gifts
together. Our kids were particularly helpful when it came to selecting gifts for children their
own age—they seemed to know exactly what they would want.
Our hearts were encouraged by the fact that the folks at the prison ministry and Operation
Christmas Child included a reflection of Christ’s love in the form of a comic book or pamphlet
with each gift to tell the young recipients about the greatest gift of all, God’s Son, Jesus.
In fact, when we hung our stockings on the fireplace mantle each year, our family included a
stocking for Jesus. In it we placed something to remember our gifts by—an angel, a brochure,
an advertisement. Because these gifts were His, we gave them to others in His name.
“All this helped us to understand the great needs there are nearby and around
the world,” says our daughter Becca, now a young adult. “It gave us the
opportunity to use what God had blessed us with to bless others. It’s part of
who we are and what we do today.”
Ideas for Serving as a FamilyOne of the best ways that we can model God’s love is through our good works for others. Think of ways that you can all work together as a family to serve the people of your community. Invite your children to offer their own ideas—you may be surprised at what they come up with.Ideas:
• Organize a canned food drive at your church. • Volunteer as a family at your local food bank.• See the last page of this kit for lots of ideas on how to volunteer
locally for Operation Christmas Child.• Bring an elderly neighbor a gift box packed with treats.• Have older children volunteer to do yard work for elderly
neighbors such as mowing the lawn, raking leaves or walking their dog.
• Invite a single soldier to a holiday dinner. • Volunteer to care for a soldier’s pet while they are deployed. • Make cards for military members overseas. • Sponsor an orphan overseas.• Create care packages for teens in local group homes. Include
toiletries, candy, Mp3 gift cards (can be as little as $5), hats, gloves, etc.
Family Devotional: “You Can Work as a Family to Serve Others”ThrivingFamily.com features great content like this short and practical online devotional.
Free Magazine Subscription!Thriving Family® Magazine is your go-to resource for all things marriage and family. From helpful tips on strengthening your relationship to fun and simple craft projects for you and your kids, Thriving Family is a great way to make every day count. And the best part? It’s absolutely free!In every issue, you’ll get:
• age-specific parenting advice • faith-based family activities• marriage tips• book reviews• support for single parents and blended families • and much more!
Start your FREE subscription today!
Or call 1-800-A-FAMILY and reference source code 165509
SERVING AS A COUPLE
Ideas for Serving as a Couple ........................7
Serving Together as a Couple .........................7
Living Intentionally to Impact Others ...............7
SuMMER SuRvIvAL KIt | 7
Ideas for Serving as a CoupleGive each other the gift of time. Spending time together as a couple serving others can help you and your spouse grow closer than ever before—and it’s simpler than you might think.
• Work in a soup kitchen, food bank, rescue mission or homeless shelter.
• Adopt a military family, especially when a spouse is deployed.
• Participate in the political process (voter registration, polling, etc.).
• Host a Christmas open house. A bag of pretzels, a can of peanuts, a plate of cookies and something to drink are all you need. Caring enough to reach out to your neighbors is what really matters.
• As an extra way to touch the world during the holidays, participate in Operation Christmas Child. See the last page of this kit for more information.
• You can buy a pig or goat for a needy family through SamaritansPurse.org.
Serving Together as a CoupleIn this insightful article series by Susan Mathis, co-author of Countdown for Couples: Preparing for the Adventure of Marriage, you’ll find excellent tips and advice for building a stronger marriage through acts of service.
Living Intentionally to Impact Others Bob Welch, Matthew West and Lejla Allison
You and your family can be a part of God’s great plan for serving others! Join host Jim Daly and guests Bob Welch, Matthew West and Lejla Allison as they each share stories and ideas to inspire and challenge families to serve selflessly in order to impact our world.
National speaker and author Bob Welch explores teachable moments parents can have with their children to nurture hearts of service. Singer and songwriter Matthew West shares creative ways his family helped others at Christmas as he was growing up. You’ll also hear from Lejla Allison, who was a young girl in war-torn Bosnia when she received an Operation Christmas Child shoe box and learned of Jesus Christ and His love for her. This inspiring broadcast will equip you and your family for a lifetime of positive impact on the world around you.
Listen now!
Susan Mathis and her book
Countdown for Couples: Preparing for the Adventure of Marriage
SERVING FOR KIDS
Children’s Magazines ....................................9
Kids Like You ................................................9
Build a Box .................................................10
Fun and Inspirational Videos ........................11
SuMMER SuRvIvAL KIt | 9
kids like you
•
®
My name is Alina. Before I was
born, my mama started packing shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child with her mama (my grandma). The first time I helped pack a shoebox, I was just a toddler.
Now I am 7, and I still like to pack shoeboxes. In June, I had a lemonade stand so I could earn my own money for the Operation Christmas Child project. In four
hours, I made $42! We went to the dollar store, and I found all kinds of small gifts.
In the girl’s shoebox, I put bracelets and necklaces, barrettes, headbands, soft socks, a toothbrush, toothpaste, teddy bear, ball, candy, pencil, kaleidoscope,
markers and pink boots!I filled four shoeboxes
for boys because Grandma said not as many people pack boy boxes. The boys got things like a small football, flashlight, stuffed dog, toothbrush, toothpaste, mini Frisbee, Play-Doh, a poncho and a coloring book!
I taped a letter and a picture of my family under each lid, and we prayed for the kids who would get our boxes.
I like doing Operation Christmas Child because we’re helping kids know about God’s love. It’s important for them to learn about God so they can go to heaven.
name: Alina G.
age: 7
home: Colorado
hobbies: coloring and
painting
Children’s MagazinesFocus on the Family Clubhouse® and Focus on the Family Clubhouse Jr.® magazines�Kids can serve others, too. On this page and the next you’ll find sample content from Focus on the Family’s great children’s magazines. And now you can get a special deal on a one-year subscription to Clubhouse or Clubhouse Jr. for just $14.99—nearly 50% off the regular rate!
Subscribe to the fun!
Or call 1-800-A-FAMILY and reference source code 165509
SuMMER SuRvIvAL KIt | 10
© P
ho
tos
co
ur
te
sy o
f o
Pe
ra
tio
n c
hr
ist
ma
s c
hil
d
s o Z o P a P e r h o c c r a y o n s u c K s Z B P Z u c n K t G u M s r K y o s d M P G B y n c t t o o t h P a s t e K l s t l o e l Z c u l o d Z B t B l o Z o a K a Z o o Z M t M P e n c i l s B
Did you know . . .• Since it began, Operation Christmas Child has hand-delivered more than 100 million shoe-box gifts to hurting kids around the world.
• If one year’s shoe-box gifts were stacked on top of each other, they would stand 146 times taller than Mount Everest! (Mount Everest is the world’s tallest mountain at 29,035 feet.)
• Shoe-box gifts travel by truck, boat, plane, bicycle, helicopter, donkey, dogsled, elephant and even oxen!Search down, across and diagonally to find gifts
you can pack in an Operation Christmas Child shoe box:
Build a Box
PaPerPencilsPhotosoaPsocKstoothBrushtoothPaste
BallcoMBcrayonsdollGuMKaZoonote
SuMMER SuRvIvAL KIt | 11
Fun and Inspirational Videos
How to Pack a Shoe BoxPack a shoe box with VeggieTales®.
Fist-bump Boy An African boy is thrilled to receive a shoe box gift from Samaritan’s Purse’s Operation Christmas Child.
Kassie Miller’s 1000 BoxesKassie Miller and her friends packed one thousand shoe boxes for Operation Christmas Child.
Kids’ Triathlon Fundraiser Kids get involved with Operation Christmas Child by participating in a kids’ triathlon.
Lemonade Stand Fundraiser Children in Camden, South Carolina, have a fundraiser with their lemonade stand for Operation Christmas Child.
A Boy’s Life Changed Luis was a rebel with no future before him, but after receiving his shoe box through Operation Christmas Child and then graduation from the The Greatest Journey discipleship program, his entire life has been changed.
OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD
A Note from Franklin Graham �����������������������13
Unwrapping a New Life �������������������������������14
Follow Your Box Around the World ����������������15
Shoe Box Self-Starters ��������������������������������16
Host a Packing Party �����������������������������������17
Packing Party Activities ��������������������������������17
Certificate of Participation ����������������������������18
Journey of a Shoe Box Melodrama Script �����19
Prayer Card ������������������������������������������������20
All About Me �����������������������������������������������21
Volunteer! ���������������������������������������������������23
SuMMER SuRvIvAL KIt | 13
Sha
ring
the
Goo
d N
ews
of G
od’s
love
with
hur
ting
boys
and
girl
s is
at
the
hear
t of O
pera
tion
Chr
istm
as C
hild
. I w
ould
like
to in
vite
you
r chu
rch
or g
roup
to p
artic
ipat
e in
the
proj
ect b
y pa
ckin
g sh
oe b
oxes
with
sim
ple
gifts
that
will
brin
g jo
y to
chi
ldre
n in
nee
d th
is h
olid
ay s
easo
n. T
he b
oxes
serv
e as
rem
inde
rs th
at th
ere
is a
God
who
love
s th
em a
nd w
ho s
ent H
is
best
gift
, Jes
us C
hris
t, to
be
thei
r Sav
ior.
Thro
ugh
our G
ospe
l lite
ratu
re
and
disc
iple
ship
pro
gram
, man
y of
thes
e ch
ildre
n ar
e be
com
ing
faith
ful
follo
wer
s of
the
Lord
. Ple
ase
join
us
in d
eliv
erin
g th
e bl
esse
d ho
pe o
f
Chr
istm
as to
mill
ions
of p
reci
ous
little
one
s ar
ound
the
wor
ld. T
hank
you
!
FRAN
KLIN
GRA
HAM
A not
e from
-Ralp
h
Since
19
93, m
ore
than
94
mill
ion
boys
and
girl
s fro
m o
ver 1
30 co
untrie
s hav
e be
en th
e jo
yful
re
cipi
ents
of s
hoe
box
gifts
—pa
cked
by
enth
usia
stic
su
ppor
ters
just
like
you
! Thi
s ye
ar O
pera
tion
Chr
istm
as
Chi
ld p
lans
to re
ach
the
100
million
th c
hild
with
the
Goo
d N
ews
of G
od’s
love
. We
need
the
pray
ers
and
part
icip
atio
n of
fam
ilies
, chu
rche
s an
d gr
oups
acr
oss
th
e na
tion
to m
ake
this
a re
ality
. In
addi
tion
to th
ose
who
pa
ck th
e bo
xes,
ther
e ar
e te
ns o
f tho
usan
ds o
f vol
unte
ers
who
ser
ve in
var
ious
role
s to
pre
pare
the
gifts
for
ship
men
t ove
rsea
s.
Eac
h sh
oe b
ox re
pres
ents
an
oppo
rtun
ity to
tell
boys
and
gi
rls a
bout
the
Great
est G
ift—
Jesu
s C
hris
t. Th
roug
h G
ospe
l sto
rybo
oks
and
our d
ynam
ic d
isci
ples
hip
prog
ram
, Th
e G
reat
est J
ourn
ey®, m
illio
ns o
f chi
ldre
n ar
e co
mm
ittin
g th
eir h
eart
s to
Chr
ist—
and
enco
urag
ing
thei
r fam
ily a
nd
frien
ds to
wal
k fa
ithfu
lly w
ith H
im, t
oo!
Fr
an
kl
in
G
ra
ha
mP
rE
SId
EN
T,
Sa
ma
rIT
aN
’S P
ur
SE
SuMMER SuRvIvAL KIt | 14
luis
took
prid
e in
bei
ng th
e to
ugh
guy
othe
r kid
s fe
ared
. Fig
hts
at s
choo
l led
to
his
expu
lsio
n. H
is h
eart
brok
en m
othe
r pra
yed
for G
od to
sav
e he
r 12-
year
-old
so
n fro
m a
life
of c
rime
and
hope
less
ness
.
She
sta
rted
taki
ng L
uis
to c
hurc
h in
thei
r Per
uvia
n vi
llage
. To
her g
reat
sur
pris
e,
he s
eem
ed to
like
it. J
ust a
fter C
hris
tmas
, the
chi
ldre
n in
the
villa
ge w
ere
invi
ted
to a
fest
ival
. Lui
s w
as ju
st a
s ex
cite
d as
the
othe
r boy
s an
d gi
rls w
hen
he
rece
ived
a s
hoe
box
with
gift
s fro
m O
pera
tion
Chr
istm
as C
hild
.
at h
is m
othe
r’s in
sist
ence
, Lui
s en
rolle
d in
The
Gre
ates
t Jou
rney
, a 1
2-le
sson
B
ible
stu
dy a
nd d
isci
ples
hip
prog
ram
offe
red
to c
hild
ren
afte
r sho
e bo
x di
strib
utio
ns. d
urin
g th
e fir
st tw
o w
eeks
, he
was
dis
rupt
ive
and
argu
men
tativ
e.
By
wee
k th
ree,
he
star
ted
to a
sk q
uest
ions
and
eve
n vo
lunt
eere
d to
pra
y.
Som
ethi
ng h
ad c
hang
ed in
his
hea
rt.
“It s
urpr
ised
me
to le
arn
that
God
sen
t His
Son
to d
ie fo
r peo
ple
like
me,”
sai
d Lu
is. “
I lik
ed to
hit
peop
le. B
ut b
ecau
se o
f wha
t the
Wor
d of
God
say
s, I
know
I do
n’t n
eed
to fi
ght a
nym
ore.”
UNW
RAPP
ING
A
L
IFE
IN J
ESUS
hun
dred
s of
thou
sand
s
of c
hild
ren
like
Luis
are
com
ing
to k
now
Jes
us a
s th
eir S
avio
r thr
ough
the
Ope
ratio
n C
hris
tmas
Chi
ld d
isci
ples
hip
prog
ram
, Th
e G
reat
est J
ourn
ey. a
fter s
hoe
boxe
s ar
e ha
nded
out
, lo
cal c
hurc
hes
invi
te c
hild
ren
in th
e co
mm
unity
to a
ttend
th
e 12
-less
on B
ible
stu
dy. F
illed
with
col
orfu
l illu
stra
tions
, S
crip
ture
read
ing
and
fun
activ
ities
, the
eng
agin
g st
orie
s br
ing
the
Gos
pel t
o lif
e. G
radu
ates
are
hon
ored
at a
spe
cial
ce
rem
ony,
and
they
rece
ive
a ch
ildre
n’s
New
Tes
tam
ent
in th
eir o
wn
lang
uage
and
a g
radu
atio
n ce
rtifi
cate
. man
y be
com
e fa
ithfu
l fol
low
ers
of J
esus
as
they
gai
n a
deep
er
unde
rsta
ndin
g of
God
’s W
ord
and
shar
e th
e G
ood
New
s w
ith o
ther
s.
ThE
Gr
EaTE
ST J
OU
rn
EY
Afte
r th
e Sh
oe B
ox
begins
The
Gre
ates
t Jou
rney
dis
cipl
eshi
p pr
ogra
m h
as
been
tran
slat
ed in
to 5
4 la
ngua
ges
and
is b
eing
us
ed in
ove
r 60
coun
trie
s.
SuMMER SuRvIvAL KIt | 15
12
PaCk
anD
Pra
Y Fi
ll a
shoe
bo
x w
ith
toys
, sch
ool
supp
lies
and
hygi
ene
item
s. P
ray
for t
he c
hild
w
ho w
ill
rece
ive
yo
ur b
ox.
GiVE
On
linE
Go
to
sam
arita
nspu
rse.
org/
occ
and
fill o
ut th
e Fo
llow
You
r Box
form
. P
rint o
ut th
e
cust
om g
irl/b
oy la
bel
we
emai
l to
you
and
affix
it to
the
top
of
your
box
.
GET
STar
TED!
Sca
n th
e Q
r c
ode
with
yo
ur m
obile
dev
ice
to d
onat
e on
line.
Yo
u w
ill re
ceiv
e an
em
ail w
ith y
our
cust
om p
rinta
ble
Follo
w Y
our B
ox la
bel.
34
DrOP
OFF
YOU
r BO
x B
ring
your
fille
d bo
x to
on
e of
mor
e th
an 3
,200
dr
op-o
ff lo
catio
ns
natio
nwid
e. F
rom
ther
e,
the
boxe
s ar
e tra
nspo
rted
to re
gion
al p
roce
ssin
g ce
nter
s an
d pr
epar
ed
by v
olun
teer
s fo
r sh
ipm
ent o
vers
eas.
FOll
Ow Y
OUr
BOx
Onc
e yo
ur
shoe
box
gift
ha
s be
en
ship
ped,
you
w
ill re
ceiv
e an
em
ail
notif
ying
you
of
the
coun
try
dest
inat
ion
of
your
box
.
to g
et m
e ar
ound
th
e w
orld
!
It on
ly ta
kes
$7
FOll
Ow Y
OU
r BO
x Gi
ve O
nlin
e to aro
und th
e worl
d
SuMMER SuRvIvAL KIt | 16
Pac
king
par
ties
are
fun
and
offe
r a
grea
t opp
ortu
nity
to
sha
re G
od’s
love
with
you
r fa
mily
or
neig
hbor
s.
Visi
t ww
w.s
amar
itans
purs
e.or
g/oc
c fo
r mor
e id
eas
to s
park
par
ticip
atio
n!
ChU
rCh
ES•
Cha
lleng
e S
unda
y sc
hool
cla
sses
and
sm
all g
roup
s to
don
ate
spec
ific
type
s of
item
s ea
ch m
onth
. For
exa
mpl
e: J
anua
ry-h
ats
and
glov
es; a
ugus
t-sch
ool s
uppl
ies;
Oct
ober
-har
d ca
ndy.
• O
rgan
ize
a pa
ckin
g pa
rty
and
invi
te p
eopl
e fro
m th
e ne
ighb
orho
od to
par
ticip
ate.
It’s
a g
reat
opp
ortu
nity
for
outr
each
and
fello
wsh
ip.
• H
ost a
kic
k-of
f Sun
day
for O
pera
tion
Chr
istm
as C
hild
in la
te
Oct
ober
or e
arly
Nov
embe
r and
enc
oura
ge p
artic
ipat
ion
from
th
e en
tire
cong
rega
tion.
Sho
w a
vid
eo fr
om o
ur p
roje
ct d
Vd
or
the
web
site
. O
ffer e
mpt
y sh
oe b
oxes
with
bro
chur
es p
lace
d in
side
.
• a
sk th
e co
ngre
gatio
n to
brin
g th
eir p
acke
d sh
oe b
oxes
to
chur
ch fo
r a d
edic
atio
n se
rvic
e. T
his
year
we
have
des
igna
ted
Nov
embe
r 11
as d
edic
atio
n S
unda
y. In
vite
chi
ldre
n to
car
ry
the
fille
d bo
xes
to th
e fro
nt o
f the
chu
rch
as th
e se
rvic
e be
gins
. H
ave
a ch
ild c
ome
forw
ard
to p
ray
over
the
gifts
.
Fam
iliE
S•
Hav
e an
Ope
ratio
n C
hris
tmas
Chi
ld th
eme
for a
birt
hday
par
ty.
Inst
ead
of p
rese
nts,
brin
g em
pty
shoe
box
es a
nd fi
ller i
tem
s.
• m
oms
and
dads
can
take
thei
r chi
ldre
n sh
oppi
ng a
nd a
sk th
em
to p
ick
out i
tem
s to
incl
ude
in th
eir s
hoe
boxe
s.
• r
each
fam
ilies
with
the
Gos
pel i
n yo
ur o
wn
back
yard
by
host
ing
an o
utre
ach
pack
ing
part
y.
Chr
iSTi
an S
ChO
OlS
• C
hoos
e a
dest
inat
ion
coun
try
to s
tudy
. ask
stu
dent
s to
re
sear
ch th
e cu
stom
s, re
ligio
ns a
nd c
urre
nt e
vent
s. In
vite
so
meo
ne fr
om th
at c
ount
ry to
giv
e a
pres
enta
tion
to th
e cl
ass.
• S
ched
ule
a to
ur fo
r stu
dent
s at
a d
rop-
off l
ocat
ion
or
Pro
cess
ing
Cen
ter i
n N
ovem
ber.
BUSi
nES
SES
anD
CiVi
C G
rO
UPS
• H
ost a
n O
pera
tion
Chr
istm
as C
hild
lunc
heon
or p
acki
ng p
arty
. a
ttend
ees
can
brin
g em
pty
shoe
box
es a
nd fi
ller i
tem
s. S
how
th
e pr
ojec
t vid
eo. I
nvite
an
Ope
ratio
n C
hris
tmas
Chi
ld s
taff
mem
ber o
r tra
ined
vol
unte
er to
spe
ak a
bout
the
proj
ect.
r
emin
d at
tend
ees
to g
ive
$7
for e
ach
box
they
pac
k to
cov
er
ship
ping
and
oth
er c
osts
.
SHOE
BOX
-ST
ARTE
RSSe
lf
SuMMER SuRvIvAL KIt | 17
Host a Packing Party Serving others is way more fun in groups. Gather everyone you know and host an Operation Christmas Child packing party! Everyone will love working together to help children in need across the globe. Have your friends and family bring their shoe boxes and supplies to your home. All you need to provide are the snacks—and maybe a bit of Christmas music to get you in the spirit of the season.
Packing Party ActivitiesHere are some fun activities you might consider using during a party you host.
Inappropriate Item Relay: This is a fun way to keep your kids entertained and active. Place the kids into even teams with an assigned shoe box. In the assigned group, line the kids up on a starting line. To keep them in order place a number for their team at the beginning of the line. Explain to the kids what types of items are inappropriate to pack in a shoe box. Inappropriate items are war related toys, liquids, lotions, perishable food, chocolate, vitamins and medications. Place a previously packed shoe box on the opposite side of the room with inappropriate items placed inside. The child will run down to a shoe box and remove the inappropriate item then run back to the team and drop it in the “local donations” box. The team who finishes first wins. Let the relay begin! (You can donate the ‘inappropriate’ items to local charities that accept them!)
Life in an Orphanage: Create an orphanage-like setting in your home. Imagine an orphanage in a third-world country. Children will experience the life of an orphan through role-play and games. Ask the kids if they know what an orphanage is. Explain that orphanages are places where kids live who do not have mommies and daddies. Set up a few beds. This can be blankets on the floor. Start by telling the kids to choose a bed. If there are not enough beds some of the kids will have to share. Have the kids close their eyes and pretend to sleep. Wake them up and instruct them to put on their clothes (lay out a few oversized, old and tattered shirts) and have them go to the kitchen for breakfast. With a loaf of bread, have the kids play hot potato and pass the bread around the table, until you decide to stop. Tell the child who ended up with the bread, he/she is the winner and gets to drink the water first. Set out a cup of dirty water. Mix the water with crushed Oreos so it appears dirty. Talk about what children eat in an orphanage. Once you are done explaining, ask the kids what they usually do after breakfast, before school. Tell all the kids to line up at the sink. Holding up only one toothbrush explain that most kids do not have their own toothbrush so all the kids will have to share. Once the kids are ready for school give each kid a piece of paper and a pencil. Ask the kids to draw the one thing that they want more than anything in the world. Once the kids are done ask a few to share about their drawing. When you are finished, tell the kids to erase their drawings because they do not have enough paper and will need to use the same paper for school tomorrow. Be creative and insert your own ideas to help children understand how blessed they are to have a family, home, etc.
SuMMER SuRvIvAL KIt | 18
Certi
ficate
ofPa
rticip
ation
(chi
ld’s
nam
e)
has b
roug
ht C
hrist
mas
joy
to a
nee
dy c
hild
by
send
ing
a sh
oe b
ox fu
ll of
gift
s an
d th
e Go
od N
ews o
f Jes
us C
hrist
.
Lead
er
Dat
e
Jesu
s sai
d, "
Let t
he li
ttle c
hild
ren
com
e to
me,
and
do n
ot h
inde
rth
em, f
or th
e kin
gdom
of h
eave
n be
long
s to
such
as t
hese
."M
atth
ew 1
9:14
(N
IV)
SuMMER SuRvIvAL KIt | 19
Journey of a Shoe Box Melodrama
OVERVIEWIf you aren’t familiar with a spontaneous melodrama, it is a drama in which the actors are unaware of what is coming next. They are guided by whatever the narrator says that they do next. As the narrator, you will need to prepare and familiarize yourself with the flow of the drama and be ready to make the necessary changes in verbiage, depending on who is enlisted. the keys to a successful spontaneous melodrama are your timing (allow enough time for actors to act out what you say), inflection (let your voice guide the actors) and actor excitement (help your actors to really let themselves have fun with this).
As you will see, this drama is designed to give people a basic overview of Operation Christmas Child in a fresh, fun way. People will be having such a good time that they won’t realize how much they are learning!
CAST:You will want to determine how many of each group to cast for acting. Even though some of these are inanimate objects, they are all roles. As you cast them (simply get volunteers to act out each part), place the actors where they need to be on stage. The family will be all the way on the left, and the children will be all the way on the right. As the box travels, it will travel from left to right until it arrives with the children.
PROPS:All of the props will need to be on a table very near where you place the family. Hand the shoe box to the person who is cast as the shoe box. The other props will go into the box.
p Shoe boxp Toy(s)p Toothpaste or soapp School supplies
(pack of pencils, paper)
STORY:[Once everyone is in their places, begin the story. Some parts are bracketed to help give you an idea of what exactly is intended to happen. Feel free to give verbal cues to cast members who didn’t quite understand what you were looking for. You may also find that repeating phrases or otherwise ad-libbing will help people to have fun and “act out” even more!]
Our story starts in a far-away country, where children hope for something special to happen to them. [Be sure to be standing near the children] they cross their fingers; they cross their toes; they even cross their eyes! But what exactly are they hoping for? they are hoping for someone to help them. And why do they need help? Because they come from families without money, which makes them sad—so sad that they frown and stick out their lower lip. [Make sure to get them to stick out those lower lips!] And because they don’t have any toys, and that makes them cry. And because they have never heard about God’s love, and that makes them wail loudly. they also need supplies like soap and toothpaste; when they sniff each other it nearly knocks them out! So who is going to help them?
[Move toward the family] Back here in America there is a family who wants to help, but they aren’t exactly sure how to help children who are so far away. Puzzled expressions appear on their faces as they try to come up with ideas for how to help. then they look confused and scratch their heads—then they begin to scratch each other’s heads! Suddenly they get a great idea and begin to jump up and down with joy! they find a shoe box [one family member pulls the shoe box to step forward, holding out the box] and decide to fill it with supplies for the children. So they take a trip to the store and pick up toys, toiletries, school supplies, candy, socks and shoes. [each family member should have at least one item in hand] the family puts all of these things into the shoe box. they even decide to write a letter to the child who will receive the shoe box. they write and write and write until their hands get really bad writer’s cramp. After that they gather together and pose for a picture. Say, “Cheese!”…say, “Shoe box!”…say, “Operation Christmas Child is a great way to both meet needs and share the gospel with millions of children and families around the globe!” [This last phrase is, of course, meant to be too much of a mouthful for them to be able to say]
During National Collection Week, the shoe box is dropped off at the local collection center by the family. Before leaving, the family waves goodbye to the box, who, of course, waves back. then the family starts blowing kisses to the box, which makes the box feel a tad awkward. they all go back to waving again, and the family finally leaves. the volunteer at the collection center gives the box a nice high five. they rub elbows, then they invent a wildly creative handshake. After that, the volunteer loads the shoe box onto a truck. [Loading onto a truck here means that the “shoe box” hops onto the “truck’s” back]
p Children (3-4)p Family (3-4)p Shoe box
(1 person, who will also hold a shoe box)
p Volunteers (2-6)
p Truck (1)p Boat (1)p Various Modes of
Transportation (up to 5)p Local helpers (1-3)
p Some hard candyp Pair of socksp Pair of children’s shoes
SuMMER SuRvIvAL KIt | 20
the truck takes the box to one of 6 processing centers around the nation. volunteers inspect the contents of the box. For good measure, they also decide to frisk the box, which makes the box giggle quite a bit. Once they are satisfied the box is properly packed, they load it onto a boat [box hops onto “boat’s” back] to begin the long trip to the children far away. Depending on where the box travels, it could also end up on a plane, a bicycle, a canoe, or even on a donkey or an elephant! [If you enlisted extra cast for the modes of travel, pause and direct the box to load onto the back of each mode of travel, which should walk a few feet over to the next mode of travel]
Once the box arrives in the village of the far away country, local helpers unload the box and give it a big bear hug. then all of the children gather to receive the gifts that were given by the family. they are so excited that they begin to make all kinds of happy sounds. they get louder…and louder…and LOuDER! Afterward they all gather to hear from the local helpers. As the children listen they learn all about Jesus, who is the real reason behind the success of Operation Christmas Child. As the children learn about Jesus, they get smiles on their faces. As a matter of fact, the family who sent the box gets big smiles on their faces, because they were able to watch the box’s progress online, and they just found out that it has arrived to the children. All of the volunteers along the way—including the truck, boat and other modes of transportation—smile, too, because of all that God has done through them. Everyone’s smiles get bigger…and bigger…and BIGGER. [Make sure everyone is smiling] Finally, they can’t contain themselves any longer and they begin to applaud God together. then they clap for each other, take a bow and have a seat.
World Prayer CardGod has called us all to care for orphans across the globe. And everyone can start with simple, heartfelt prayer. Cut out the card below and tape it to your refrigerator, bathroom mirror—anywhere that will remind you each day to pray that orphaned children will someday find their forever home.
SUND
AYPr
ay fo
r the
col
lect
ion
and
proc
essi
ng o
f sh
oe b
ox g
ifts
as w
e an
ticip
ate
reac
hing
a
mile
ston
e th
is y
ear—
shar
ing
the
love
of
Jesu
s C
hris
t with
ove
r 100
milli
on c
hild
ren
sinc
e th
e st
art o
f the
pro
ject
in 1
993.
MON
DAY
Pray
for G
od to
dire
ct e
ach
shoe
box
gi
ft in
to th
e ha
nds
of ju
st th
e rig
ht c
hild
so
that
eac
h on
e w
ill ex
perie
nce
His
un
cond
ition
al lo
ve a
nd p
rovis
ion.
TUES
DAY
Pray
that
God
will
use
Ope
ratio
n C
hris
tmas
Chi
ld to
brin
g jo
y to
boy
s an
d gi
rls w
ho a
re fa
cing
pov
erty
, sic
knes
s,
or w
ar.
WED
NESD
AYPr
ay th
at th
e bo
xes
will
open
doo
rs fo
r ch
ildre
n to
hea
r the
Goo
d N
ews
in p
arts
of
the
wor
ld th
at a
re ty
pica
lly c
lose
d to
pr
ocla
imin
g th
e G
ospe
l.
THUR
SDAY
Pray
for t
he c
hild
ren
who
enr
oll i
n Th
e G
reat
est J
ourn
ey f
ollo
w-u
p di
scip
lesh
ip
prog
ram
, tha
t the
y w
ill co
me
to fa
ith in
Je
sus
and
tell t
heir
frien
ds a
nd fa
mily
ab
out t
he S
avio
r.
FRID
AYPr
ay fo
r our
Nat
iona
l Lea
ders
hip
Team
vo
lunt
eers
who
wor
k w
ith lo
cal c
hurc
hes
to d
istri
bute
sho
e bo
xes
and
to im
plem
ent
The
Gre
ates
t Jou
rney
.
SATU
RDAY
Pray
for G
od to
pro
vide
the
wis
dom
, re
sour
ces,
and
vol
unte
ers
need
ed to
ov
erse
e th
is e
xpan
ding
glo
bal o
utre
ach
to c
hild
ren.
DAIL
Y PR
AYER
08-07-284
©20
12
Guide
“God
has
pou
red
out H
is lo
ve
into
our
hea
rts”
— R
oman
s 5:
5, N
IV
Ope
ratio
n C
hris
tmas
Chi
ld® is
a p
roje
ct o
f S
amar
itan’
s P
urse
®, F
rank
lin G
raha
m, P
resi
dent
.
Journey of a Shoe Box MelodramaSTORY (continued)
SuMMER SuRvIvAL KIt | 21
Hi! I would like to introduce myself to you.My name is ________________________________and I am very glad to meet you.I am ________ years old.
Now if you look at a map ofour world, I’ve colored thecountry where I live. My shoe box has taken afantastic journeyto find you!
This is what I look like.
I live in the United States of America. I live in the state of ___________________, in the city of _______________________. If you look at the map, I livein the state that is colored in.
�
ALL ABOUT MEHere is a coloring page that you can print and cut out to go inside your shoe box to tell the child who receives your box more about you!
SuMMER SuRvIvAL KIt | 22
�There are lots of things I like.My Favorite:thing to drink is ____________________.color is _____________________________.food is ______________________________.thing to play is _____________________ .
My house looks like this.
When I have free time,I like to _______________________________________.
I love Jesus because_______________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________.�
I hope you like the gifts I packedfor you. If you send me a letter tothis address, I will write you backand we can become friends.________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________�
In my family, I have______ brothers______ sisters______ pets
���
color the pictures!
���
�
SuMMER SuRvIvAL KIt | 23
FinD
OUT
mOr
E! S
can
the
Qr
cod
e w
ith y
our
mob
ile d
evic
e to
get
m
ore
info
rmat
ion
abou
t vo
lunt
eer o
ppor
tuni
ties.
Ye
ar
-ro
un
d o
PP
or
tun
ItIe
sJo
in a
n A
rea
Team
! do
you
enjo
y sp
arki
ng e
xcite
men
t ab
out O
pera
tion
Chr
istm
as C
hild
? E
ncou
ragi
ng c
hurc
h an
d co
mm
unity
invo
lvem
ent?
Pra
ying
and
enc
oura
ging
oth
ers
to p
ray
for t
he p
roje
ct?
If yo
u an
swer
ed y
es to
any
of t
hese
qu
estio
ns, G
od m
ay b
e ca
lling
you
to u
se y
our t
alen
ts to
ser
ve
Him
in o
ne o
f the
se m
inis
try
team
role
s on
you
r loc
al a
rea
Team
:
Pr
aYE
r m
OB
ILIz
aTIO
N—
Com
mit
to p
ray
regu
larly
and
en
list o
ther
gro
ups
to p
ray
for v
ario
us a
spec
ts o
f Ope
ratio
n C
hris
tmas
Chi
ld.
CH
ur
CH
rE
LaTI
ON
S—
rea
ch o
ut to
loca
l chu
rche
s an
d su
ppor
t the
m in
fulfi
lling
the
Gre
at C
omm
issi
on th
roug
h O
pera
tion
Chr
istm
as C
hild
.
CO
mm
uN
ITY
rE
LaTI
ON
S—
Bui
ld re
latio
nshi
ps w
ith c
ivic
gr
oups
, bus
ines
ses
and
scho
ols,
invi
ting
them
to p
ack
shoe
bo
x gi
fts.
mE
dIa
rE
LaTI
ON
S—
rai
se a
war
enes
s of
the
min
istr
y by
w
orki
ng w
ith p
rint,
radi
o an
d te
levi
sion
out
lets
.
CO
LLE
CTI
ON
NE
TWO
rk
—r
ecei
ve s
hoe
box
gifts
fro
m d
onor
s at
dro
p-of
f site
s an
d ar
rang
e fo
r the
ir tr
ansp
orta
tion
to p
roce
ssin
g ce
nter
s.
du
rIn
g c
oll
ec
tIo
n s
ea
so
n
Ther
e ar
e op
port
uniti
es fo
r ten
s of
thou
sand
s
of v
olun
teer
s to
ser
ve in
loca
l dro
p-of
f loc
atio
ns
and
at o
ur s
even
regi
onal
Pro
cess
ing
Cen
ters
. Th
ese
volu
ntee
rs w
ill c
olle
ct m
ore
than
six
m
illio
n sh
oe b
ox g
ifts
and
prep
are
them
for
ship
men
t ove
rsea
s to
nee
dy b
oys
and
girls
. O
ur P
roce
ssin
g C
ente
rs a
re lo
cate
d in
B
oone
, NC
; Cha
rlotte
, NC
; atla
nta,
Ga
; m
inne
apol
is, m
N; d
enve
r, C
O;
San
ta a
na, C
a; a
nd H
onol
ulu,
HI.
wiT
h OP
EraT
iOn
Chri
STm
aS C
hilD
! Volu
nteer
1-800-A-FAMILY (232-6459)FocusOnTheFamily.com
© 2012 Focus on the Family