REMINDER: THIS WEEK IS SHOEBOX COLLECTION WEEK
I hope this story helps remind us why we should pack a shoebox this year.
GOD USES OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD SHOEBOX GIFTS TO OPEN DOORS FOR CHURCHPLANTING EFFORTS IN UNREACHED AREAS.
Bible school graduates Raja Asirvatham and Ramya Rajarathinam, a husband and wife team, moved to an area of South Asia with no known Christians with the intent of planting a church. For three years they labored with little visible response from the people— until they delivered Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts.
These tangible expressions of God’s love proved to be a building block for them in the community. The shoeboxes opened the hearts of villagers—and their own daughter—to the Gospel. Over an eight year term, they had established a thriving church of 75 people that continues to grow today.
Ramya and Raja poured their hearts and lives into Hindu and Muslim people who worked on little farms and in leather and fabric factories. Traveling weekly to a handful of locations, they started by gathering children to tell them Bible stories and sing songs together. They met under trees, on porches, even in streets, diverting bicycle traffic around them.
Week after week, they faithfully shared from the Bible truths in different locations without seeing much fruit. However when they came to each of these places with cartons full of gift-filled shoeboxes the momentum shifted.
“It was such a great tool,” Ramya said. “It paved the way for more relationship” Since the Hindus rarely allow their children to participate in Bible based activities, the missionaries were able to encourage them about the Operation Christmas Child outreach events by saying “We are having something special just to show love.” While at the events in each village, they would share the Gospel and pray with children, while parents watched and listened in. “The box was like an anchor to go back more times and build relationships, teaching the children through accompanying Bible studies. Through this the people, even adults, started coming to Christ and it was with this foundation the church was started.”
Today the missionary family has one simple message. “Definitely pack a shoebox! Every one can make a difference.” As a church family let’s be a part of blessing children around the world by prayerfully packing shoeboxes full of love and the Gospel. National Collection Week is coming up Nov. 11-19. Bring yours this Sunday!
In His Service,
Eric Barnes
