samaritan's purse - project leader resource ......since 1993, samaritan’s purse has helped...

PROJECT LEADER RESOURCE1

PROJECT LEADER RESOURCE

PROJECT LEADER GUIDE

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Thank you for the role you play in Operation Christmas Child (OCC). Without Project Leaders, the participation of churches, schools, community groups and businesses that fill shoeboxes for OCC simply wouldn’t happen!

The information in this Guide will equip you to organise and motivate your group towards the best possible experience with OCC. You’ll find:

• Who to contact if you need help or a question answered

• An outline of the role of a Project Leader

• How to order OCC resources such as brochures, posters and pre-printed shoeboxes

• The most important OCC information to be presented to the group

• Ideas for how your group can best participate in OCC.

I hope you will find this Guide beneficial. The team of OCC staff and volunteers are passionate about supporting you as best we can!

God bless,

Rowan Armstrong National Manager Operation Christmas Child Australia/New Zealand

What Is Operation Christmas Child (OCC)?

OCC is a project of Samaritan’s Purse, a nondenominational evangelical Christian

organisation whose mission is to provide spiritual and physical aid to hurting people around the world. Since 1993, Samaritan’s Purse has helped meet the needs of people who are victims of war, poverty, natural disasters, disease, and famine.

OCC is a unique project that takes gift-filled shoeboxes to children in need in over 100 countries around the world. The mission of OCC is to demonstrate God’s love in a tangible way, and together with the local church worldwide, to share the Good News of Jesus Christ.

All of Samaritan’s Purse’s projects, including OCC, are given and provided with “no strings attached” and without regard to the race, creed, gender, religion or ethnicity of the beneficiaries.

The Greatest Journey is a 12 lesson follow-up discipleship program that is offered to many children who receive shoebox gifts through Operation Christmas Child. More than 18.9 million children have participated in The Greatest Journey, since 2009. The Greatest Journey is implemented through a global church network to help children learn how to know and follow Jesus.

THE GREATEST JOURNEY


Contact Information

Enter your volunteer representative’s details here:

Name

Phone

Email

Call Donor Care on the numbers below and they will connect you to your local Field Ministry Leader or Regional Leader.

Australia - 1300 884 468

New Zealand - 0800 726 274

Your local Field Ministry Leader or Regional Leader will put you in contact with your local OCC volunteer representative. They will be able to help you with what you need.


o Share and celebrate the previous year’s results and shoebox numbers with your group o Contact your local OCC volunteer, Field Ministry Leader or Regional Leader to discuss participation and resources for the upcoming collection season o Consider whether or not the group could also act as a drop-off point

PERIOD

January - May

The role of a Project Leader

The role of Project Leader is easily summarised as:

• The “point-person” who organises OCC on behalf of the church/school/group

• The person who ensures the group is motivated and informed about OCC

• The person who ensures shoeboxes from the group are collected and handed in at an OCC collection point (known as drop-off points).

Here is a sample timeline for the Project Leader to give you an idea of the tasks involved:

TASK

o Order resources online at: operationchristmaschild.org.au or operationchristmaschild.org.nz o Motivate group for participation in OCC o Fill shoeboxes / Run a packing party / Engage the community in OCC o Liaise with your local OCC volunteer, Field Ministry Leader or Regional Leader for support o Prepare shoeboxes for drop-off or collection in October o Show OCC videos to inspire and inform your group!

June - September

o Collection month! Check operationchristmaschild.org.au or operationchristmaschild.org.nz for your local drop-off point information and cut-off date.

October

o Opportunities for your group to be involved in your local processing centre. Please contact your local Field Ministry Leader or Regional Leader for details.

October - November


Resource Orders

There are all kinds of resources that can motivate and assist your group in participating in OCC. Most of our resources come in both downloadable and hard-copy formats and are available via our website:

• operationchristmaschild.org.au – for Australia

• operationchristmaschild.org.nz – for New Zealand

All resources are provided freely, with the exception of our pre-printed shoeboxes (PPSBs). We ask for a 50c donation per PPSB to help cover the significant cost associated with producing and distributing this item.

Donations for PPSBs can be made online, or in person to your local OCC volunteer, Field Ministry Leader or Regional Leader.

In most cases, we prefer to arrange a local pick-up or delivery of resources. This greatly assists us in keeping our postage and courier costs down, meaning more of our limited financial resources can be invested in the program. Wherever this is not possible, we will post/courier resources.

Resources available:

• “How to Pack a Shoebox” brochure*

• Promotional poster*

• Prayer bookmark

• Church bulletin insert*

• Colouring-in pages*

• Appreciation certificate*

• Shoebox labels*

• OCC videos*

• School lesson plans*

• Pre-printed shoeboxes

All items marked with an * are available online as downloadable resources. Please download the resources your group requires or order hard-copy resources via the website.


How to Present OCC to your Group

Operation Christmas Child is an incredibly simple and fun way for people to be involved in bringing hope and love to children in great need. There are, however, a few key points that must be understood by participants so that the project can be effective.

Please use the following points as a guide to framing your presentation/s to your group:

1. Follow the gift suggestions and prohibited items instructions in the brochure

• Include both fun and practical items – variety makes a great shoebox gift!

• Prohibited items are listed for the child’s safety, customs regulations or other important reasons.

2. Please encourage people to give shoeboxes that are comfortably full

• Encourage the group to minimise “air” space or items rattling around within their shoeboxes

• We want all the children to receive a shoebox that is full.

3. Encourage people to include the $10 donation per shoebox

• Donations can be made online or by using the “How to Pack a Shoebox” brochure

• The donation covers all project costs including shipping, shoebox distribution, local warehousing, training distribution teams, staffing and administration, etc.

• Shoeboxes given without the donation will make it incredibly difficult for us to continue to facilitate the program.

Remember that it’s always more important to inspire and motivate people, rather than listing the guidelines. You can do this by showing plenty of videos or telling stories you’ve heard or read about. While practical direction and the above points are important, it’s more important to get people excited first, before telling them all the finer details!

We have included in this document guides for a shoebox celebration, youth and launch events and other helpful suggestions.

Your local OCC volunteer, Field Ministry Leader or Regional Leader may be able to assist you by making a presentation to your group, or sharing a sample presentation with you. Please contact them to discuss these options.



Frequently Asked Questions1. What countries are shoeboxes sent to?1. What countries are shoeboxes sent to?

• Globally, over 100 countries receive OCC shoeboxes.

2. Which country will my shoebox go to?2. Which country will my shoebox go to?

• We don’t know where each shoebox will be shipped until they are processed and a sea container is booked. This is due to timing, targets and export/import schedules to our receiving countries.

• The best way for people to find out where their shoebox/es are shipped is to make their $10 donation per shoebox via “Follow Your Box” and to attach the barcoded labels to their shoebox/es.

3. What age/gender category is most needed?3. What age/gender category is most needed?

• We plan our distributions based on historical data, so please encourage people to give as they are led. Highlighting a gender/age category isn’t necessary and can throw our distribution projections out.

4. What is the cut-off date?4. What is the cut-off date?

• October is our national collection month. Please see the drop-off point page on the website for accurate information on your nearest drop-off point’s starting and closing dates.

5. Do I have to use a pre-printed OCC shoebox?5. Do I have to use a pre-printed OCC shoebox?

• Not at all – in fact we prefer people to use their own empty shoeboxes. The pre-printed shoeboxes are available to assist people and groups with their participation if required.

• Please follow the size guidelines on the brochure as closely as possible when using your own shoebox or shoebox-sized plastic container.

6. How can the $10 donation be made?6. How can the $10 donation be made?

• The best method is online, as it is the most secure form of giving to OCC and requires the least handling and administration. You can give a general donation online or donate via the Follow Your Box method.

• If you aren’t comfortable giving online, please use the donation form on the OCC brochure and include it with your cash, cheque or credit card donation and place in an envelope inside your shoebox/es.

• Please try to place the envelope on top of the shoebox contents so it is easily located by our processing team.

• If you’re giving multiple shoeboxes, you can make a combined donation for all your shoeboxes and place it in one of the shoeboxes.

7. Do shoeboxes go to the same children every year? 7. Do shoeboxes go to the same children every year?

• OCC has a one shoebox for one child policy. We do this to ensure as many children as possible can be reached and impacted by the program.

8. What are the reasons for prohibited/inappropriate items? 8. What are the reasons for prohibited/inappropriate items?

• There are a variety of reasons behind the guidelines. Some are due to customs regulations, but most are to do with the safety and wellbeing of the child. Please encourage your group to follow the guidelines as closely as possible without too much speculation regarding what the reason may be for each guideline.

9. Can I donate items, or shoeboxes without the donation?9. Can I donate items, or shoeboxes without the donation?

• We encourage people to donate shoeboxes with the accompanying donation as our first preference – gift-filled shoeboxes and donated funds are the two things that fuel our ministry.

10. Why can’t I put a Bible or Christian Literature in my shoebox?10. Why can’t I put a Bible or Christian Literature in my shoebox?

• There are two practical reasons for this. Firstly, many of the shoeboxes go to countries where the children cannot read or speak English. Secondly, OCC works with the local church to invite children to a follow-up discipleship course called The Greatest Journey. They receive teaching, discipleship material and get a Bible in their own language.

If you have any other questions, please discuss with your local OCC volunteer or your nearest Field Ministry Leader or Regional Leader. You can also view more FAQs at samaritanspurse.org.au/occ-faqs.

Year-Round VolunteeringVolunteer Area Teams are growing and being supported by our Field Ministry Leaders and Regional Leaders across Australia and New Zealand. These Area Teams exist to promote and manage the Operation Christmas Child project in their local area.

There are a range of volunteer opportunities in these teams, and a timeline of activities that our volunteers perform year-round in order for the ministry of OCC to be strong and healthy in their area. We’d love you or members of your church/group to consider becoming a year round volunteer with OCC. This will enable us to reach as many children as we can with a gift-filled shoebox, representing the message of Christmas – God’s love and hope toward all people.

If you are interested in finding out more, please visit our website and complete an expression of interest on our volunteering page, or contact your local OCC volunteer, Field Ministry Leader or Regional Leader.


SHARING THE VISION

This resource is designed to assist you in sharing the vision of Operation Christmas Child with your church or group’s leadership. As together you grasp how packing shoeboxes transforms communities around the world by the power of the Gospel, you will be poised to motivate others to get involved.

Pray

Seek the Lord first. Ask Him to open and close doors according to His will. Pray for your leadership, remembering that they have many unseen pressures and factors that influence their decisions. Pray for wisdom, clarity, and an opportunity to meet with them at the right time.

Prepare

Before you attempt to share the project with your leadership, be sure to understand personally the scope of Operation Christmas Child. Every shoebox gift is an opportunity for a child to discover, know, and share Jesus Christ.

1. Consider how being involved in Operation Christmas Child benefits your church or group. Possibilities may include:

• An opportunity to fulfill the Great Commission

• A tool to teach children about giving

• A tangible way to equip churches around the world in outreach and church planting

• A fun and personalised project that unites people of all ages in your group or congregation

• A Christmas outreach that can be completed before the busy holiday season

2. Think through exactly what you are asking of your leadership. It will be important to reassure them that involvement in Operation Christmas Child will not require additional work on their part. As a Project Leader, you will organise your church or group’s involvement in shoebox packing. You are simply looking for your leaders’ endorsement and support.

3. Gather materials from operationchristmaschild.org.au or operationchristmaschild.org.nz that will assist you in sharing stories of Operation Christmas Child, including stories, videos and printable resources.

4. See the appendix on pages 12-13 for a list of in-depth questions occasionally posed by church or group leadership. Review them in advance so you can be prepared with an answer if you are asked something similar. For answers to more general questions about the Samaritan’s Purse project, see our “Frequently Asked Questions” page on our website. If you have a question that isn’t answered in either of these places, please email us at [email protected] or [email protected].

Set Up a Meeting with Leadership

Evaluate who would be the best person(s) with whom to discuss your plans. Consider who has the ability to make the necessary decisions. It is best to talk to the people who are going to be able to ultimately say yes or no.

Practice Your Presentation (15-20 minutes)

1-2 minutes: Communicate the benefits of Operation Christmas Child for your church or group and your role as a Project Leader.

5-7 minutes: Relay the scope and spiritual influence of the project

2-3 minutes: Share a story or video

3-5 minutes: Answer questions and communicate action steps

Watch God Work

Just be faithful and obedient. This is the Lord’s conversation. As you trust Him, He will direct your steps. Do your best, but allow Him to lead. No matter the outcome, if God was honored, it was a success!


SHARING THE VISION

APPENDIX - In-Depth Questions About Operation Christmas Child

1. Who delivers shoebox gifts?

Operation Christmas Child is a global program facilitated through hundreds of thousands of trained volunteers. Local believers in more than 100 countries deliver Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts, present the Gospel, and facilitate our follow-up discipleship program, The Greatest Journey.

With this approach, local Christians who know the culture and language best are given effective resources with a solid Biblical foundation to share the Gospel in their communities. We equip ministry partners—a local pastor or church leader—to be our volunteer representatives by providing thorough, detailed training for them to be able to facilitate a shoebox outreach event and present the Gospel.

Trained National Leadership Team members, ministry partners, and The Greatest Journey teachers are volunteer roles filled exclusively by these national Christians.

2. How do shoebox gifts impact local economies?

The mission of Operation Christmas Child is to provide local churches who are our ministry partners around the world with shoebox gifts as a way to reach children in their communities. For many children, this is the first gift they will ever receive. More important than the items inside the shoebox, the gifts are an opportunity to share God’s love—and the Good News of Jesus Christ—with children in need.

In each shoebox receiving country, we partner with a volunteer National Leadership Team that consists of year-round volunteers from various church denominations. Together, they strategise how to reach children in their country with the Gospel. It is our desire to give one shoebox to a child in their lifetime, and this is the model used in our training. Local churches distribute shoebox gifts to children in different communities each year.

Because of this strategy, the economic impact on a community is minimal which allows us to reach millions of new children every year with the Good News of Jesus Christ and disciple many, with millions now sharing their faith with their friends, family, and beyond.

As Henry Mankhanamba, a volunteer national prayer coordinator from Malawi, put it, “If shoebox gifts impacted our local economy, the government would never allow them in. They see it as a blessing to the children of Malawi.”

3. How do shoebox gifts impact the local church?

In more than 100 receiving countries, shoebox gifts are used by local Christians as a strategy for evangelism, discipleship, and the multiplication of believers and churches in their communities. More important than the items inside the shoebox, the gifts are an opportunity to share God’s love—and the Good News of Jesus Christ—with children in need. Local Christians who know the culture and language best are given effective resources in their own language and a solid Biblical foundation so that they can communicate the Gospel within their own communities through shoebox outreach events and The Greatest Journey discipleship program.

For example, in Fiji, a pastor hosted an Operation Christmas Child shoebox outreach event

in a rural community that had no church. He then invited the children to attend The Greatest Journey follow-up discipleship program. As the students gathered for the discipleship lessons, their parents grew curious and began attending too. The village elder became a believer and offered his property as a place for the new church to meet. Today 80 people attend regularly, and five additional churches have been started in surrounding villages! This is one example of hundreds of churches planted annually as a result of Operation Christmas Child in regions where we work.

The evangelism and discipleship resources utilised by Operation Christmas Child were intentionally developed with input from local believers in 16 countries, from six continents, and are specifically focused on children.

In the eight countries where shoebox gifts are packed, Operation Christmas Child provides an opportunity for participants to be a part of fulfilling the Great Commission. Jesus said, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19). In this church-to-church ministry model, churches who pack shoebox gifts partner with local churches around the world as they share God’s love with children in need and provide follow-up discipleship through The Greatest Journey.

4. How are different cultures and local contexts incorporated into shoebox distribution events?

More than 75,000 pastors and church leaders share the Gospel every year at outreach events where shoebox gifts are delivered and the Gospel message shared. The shoebox outreach events are planned and implemented by volunteers in the local church who know the culture and language best. Through our volunteer National Leadership Team, local believers are trained to present the Gospel in a child friendly way. We work with the volunteer National Leadership Team to develop an annual strategy for evangelism, discipleship, and multiplication of believers and churches in their communities.

5. Do children have to say or do anything to receive a shoebox gift?

Shoebox gifts are given to children regardless of their gender, ethnicity, or faith. We seek to demonstrate God’s love in a tangible way through each shoebox gift. Children do not have to do or say anything to receive the gifts. We work in and through local Christians in each country who understand the context in their area. Simple gifts—packed with love in Jesus’ Name—deliver hope and joy to children all around the world, regardless of their faith or religious background.

6. How does a shoebox gift impact a child in need?

Operation Christmas Child is not intended as a solution for meeting physical needs, but rather a strategy for the local church to meet spiritual needs of children in their communities. The unexpected gift delights and sparks hope in the life of a child as they hear of Jesus’ love for them. Simple gifts—packed with love in Jesus’ Name—deliver hope and joy to children all around the world, regardless of their faith or religious background. Shoebox gifts are given freely in Jesus’ Name.

7. Will Operation Christmas Child compete with other service projects our church or group does?

Operation Christmas Child collects shoebox gifts during OCCtober. Some churches and groups pack shoeboxes year-round but most pack only in October which allows time for other local and international service activities.


PROJECT LAUNCH EVENT/PRESENTATION

Recommended size: Entire congregation

Event objective: Use the Project Launch to cast the vision for Operation Christmas Child to your church and start the collection season off strong.

Ideas:

• Sharing the Story

• Read the attached Welcome script and show a video. Choose a video on our website: operationchristmaschild.org.au or operationchristmaschild.org.nz.

• Your Part of the Story

• Share the shoebox goal for your church this year using the attached Goal Reveal script.

• How to Participate

• Give clear action steps for getting involved, such as “Stop by the table in the lobby” or pick up a “How to Pack a Shoebox” brochure on your way out”.

• Read the attached Wrap-Up script.

Set up:

• Print the Welcome, Goal Reveal, and Wrap-Up scripts.

• Have video and audio technology available and ready to play videos.

Decorations:

• Display pre-printed shoeboxes in your lobby.

• Set up a table where people can receive more information and resources.

• Take out your Christmas decorations early, and set up an Operation Christmas Child-themed tree.

• Hang up a world map or country flags.

Consider these options for churches:

• Ask your pastor to consider preaching a missions-related sermon.

• Ask your worship leader to plan music that centers around missions or God’s love for the nations.

• Ask your children’s ministry director to incorporate Operation Christmas Child into activities and lesson plans. Point them to our Downloadbale Resources on our website to teach children about the importance of sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ with those both near and far.

Welcome Script:

When you turn on the news it is easy to get discouraged with all of the hard things that are happening in the world. But God is still good, and He is still at work! Take a look at this video to see how a simple shoebox gift is changing the lives of so many children.

Where there once was darkness, there is now Good News and Great Joy!

Impact Script (Goal Reveal):

Last year alone, Samaritan’s Purse delivered millions of Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes to children around the world. God used these simple gifts to change the lives of many boys and girls and their families. After the outreach events where children received their shoeboxes, many went on to enroll in The Greatest Journey discipleship program. These children were discipled by trained local teachers, and they are now enthusiastically sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ with others. Simple shoebox gifts, packed with love and prayer, are tools for evangelism and discipleship in over 100 countries. Local pastors across the globe are thankful for the opportunity these shoeboxes provide to spread the Gospel in their communities.

We are so excited to share with you that after much prayer and in great faith, we set our church’s shoebox goal at __________ shoebox gifts for this year.

We believe that God wants to use [church name] to send Operation Christmas Child boxes to children all over the world. We need you to join us as we pray, pack, and ship these gifts.

Wrap-Up Script:

You can see why we’re so excited about Operation Christmas Child! Stop by the [table/display] in [location] to get more information on our goal, learn how to pack a shoebox with your family and discover other ways to get involved. This is a great chance for us to grow in our faith and in our relationships as we work together, pray together, and pack together to reach our goal. I believe that as a group, God wants us to be a small part of sharing His love with children in need around the world. So, go pack a shoebox!


CELEBRATION SUNDAY/EVENT

Celebration Sunday is for your church family to join together and rejoice about what God has done through your shoebox-packing efforts, regardless of whether or not you reached your goal.

Suggested Agenda: 15–20 minutes

• Rejoice

• 1 minute—Welcome and Shoebox Number Reveal scripts.

• Reaffirm

• 2 - 4 minute video (Choose one from our website at operationchristmaschild.org.au or operationchristmaschild.org.nz.

• 1 minute—Impact script.

• Pray

• 10 minutes—Bring shoeboxes up to the platform area. Invite members of the group to come up, lay hands on the boxes, and pray for them.

• Pray specifically for each of the upcoming stops a shoebox makes on its journey to its destination. Use Impact script as a reference.

• 1 minute—Close with Wrap-Up script.

Set up:

• Print off Welcome, Shoebox Number Reveal, Impact, and Wrap-Up scripts.

• Have video and audio technology available and ready to play videos.

Decoration Ideas:

• Hang up Operation Christmas Child posters to decorate your church.

• Set up an Operation Christmas Child-themed Christmas tree.

• Hang up a world map or country flags.

• Blow up green and red balloons to decorate your church. Give one out to each child who packed a shoebox.

Bonus Ideas:

• Decorate your church for Christmas that week.

• Have church members drive together to the drop-off location with their cars full of shoeboxes.

• Celebrate with a church lunch or dinner.

• Have children sing Jesus Loves Me in multiple languages to the congregation.

Welcome Script:Welcome everyone! Several weeks ago, we started our shoebox-packing season. Now after [shopping trips, crafting parties, packing parties, other events], we gather again to celebrate what we’ve been able to achieve together with God’s help.

Shoebox Number Reveal Script: I am so excited to tell you that as of today we have packed _________ [number of] shoeboxes. That is a lot of boxes! And I want to personally express my appreciation to each one of you who gave, packed, or prayed.

OR

We wanted to let you know in a fun way how many shoeboxes we received so, [enjoy this photo montage, or bring up the thermometer, or insert another fun idea here].

Impact Script:These shoeboxes are headed out from [your location] and many of them will be sent to places of unimaginable poverty and darkness. The enemy does not want these boxes filled with the love and joy of Jesus to reach their destination. He doesn’t want us to pray for these children. But we have an opportunity to go before these shoeboxes in prayer, walking beside them every step of the way until they reach the hands of a child. We are going to take the next few minutes to pray over these shoeboxes. Join us in praying for them as they travel to the collection centre, continue on to the processing centres for inspection, head to the ports for shipping, go through customs, are transported in country, and finally, arrive in communities to share the love of Jesus. Pray as well for the heart of the child that will receive each shoebox, and the pastors or teachers that will be sharing the Gospel at each outreach event. Pray that the light of hope will shine and illuminate the darkness.

Wrap-Up Script: We are so blessed to be a part of a simple project that has such a great impact. We are a small part of this huge effort, but we know that God cares individually about each child. God knows each child by name. He knows their heart’s desires. He already knows which shoebox they will receive and the spiritual journey it will start. As we leave here today, please don’t stop praying for these children. Pray that God will multiply our efforts and that one day, when we join the multitudes from every nation around the throne of God, some will be there because of our simple shoeboxes. Be sure to share pictures of your event with us at Operation Christmas Child using the hashtags #OCCanz #myOCCshoebox.

DECLARE HIS GLORY AMONG THE NATIONS, HIS WONDERS AMONG ALL PEOPLES.

Psalm 96:3

PROJECT LEADER RESOURCE20

GOOD NEWS. GREAT JOY.operationchristmaschild.org.auoperationchristmaschild.org.nz

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