By Elbert Rivers
First Baptist Church of Snellville
For several of us at First Baptist Church of Snellville, Operation Christmas Child is a year-round focus. We begin planning early to make each year better than the one before.For 2015, we wanted to spread the joy we have experienced with this worthy cause. We reached out to Eagle Ranch about getting their boys and girls to participate in a shoebox packing party. What better time to get young people involved so they can hear the story of Operation Christ
mas Child?
More than 20 of us from FBC Snellville joined the Eagle Ranch children for a fun and meaningful afternoon. The Operation Christmas Child organization helped connect us with Livia Satterfield, who received a box when she was a young, orphaned child in Colombia. Livia spoke to us about the effect the shoebox had on her life. She shared a powerful testimony about God’s love, her 10 years in the orphanage and being adopted by the lady who distributed the shoebox to her.
The children then packed 123 shoeboxes with items donated from FBC Snellville! The shoeboxes express Gods’ love and provide children around the world a Christmas gift, often the first gift they have ever received in their lives. It is our wish that through the efforts of Operation Christmas Child and packing of these shoeboxes that God will be lifted up to children and their families around the world.
We felt blessed beyond words watching and experiencing the excitement of the Eagle Ranch boys and girls as they packed the shoeboxes and expressed heartfelt thanks for the experience. Our group also received a tour of the Ranch.
We had a wonderful afternoon with the outstanding young people of Eagle Ranch. We can’t wait to see what God has in store for 2016!