Syrian Refugees Receive their Shoeboxes! Video

Thank you to all who prayed for these shoeboxes... there were some delays in getting them there.... but God cleared the way, and we can rejoice! As you watch the video you will see the situation in Northern Iraq for these refugees, almost half of which are children! I am praising God for the work of Samaritan's Purse in His name... and the work God will do through it.

Father God, it is my prayer, that these boxes sow seeds of LOVE and HOPE and JOY for those that live in such darkness. May the transformative power of the Gospel and Your love, be partnered perfectly with the love of those who pack the shoeboxes, to overwhelm the hearts of these little ones. May the boxes be answers to prayer, tangible expressions of a loving God who cares for them individually, personally, and so very deeply.

I can't help but think, perhaps, these simple shoeboxes, which bring the Gospel and such joy to these children, are also bringing healing for the future of these nations. How can a child grow into hate for the people of the United States, when they have received love from a person there.... a letter, a photo, and gifts of love?

Enough of MY talk... enjoy the video...

Please Pray for the Philippines

A typhoon hit there on Tues., and hundreds are dead, many more still missing. Homes and churches and schools and communities are destroyed. People are hurting, afraid, and in need. And now, the typhoon is turning BACK to the Philippines. This nation is our area of prayer emphasis, and many of our shoeboxes go there. Please lift up the people of this nation as they deal with this massive catastrophe. If you want to learn more: http://www.cnn.com/2012/12/08/world/asia/philippines-typhoon/ and http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2012/12/08/philippine-typhoon-rescue-bataan/1755347/

Call to Prayer

The days are counting down until the

Nothing is more critical to the work of Operation Christmas Child than dedicated prayer support. Last year, more than 2,200 hours of prayer were committed on behalf of the children around the world who received shoe box gifts and the message of God's love. We are thankful for the opportunity to partner together again this year in praying for this important work during National Collection Week. Please join with others around the globe in asking God to continue to bless Operation Christmas Child and to use the shoe box gifts for His glory.

Choose days and times at the website http://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/OCC/1khours to sign up & pray.

If you have any questions, email occprayer@samaritan.org.

Where are your prayers coming from? Check it out at http://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/OCC/1khours

Join us in Prayer

The most important part of  Operation Christmas Child is prayer. 

The 2012 Call to Prayer has begun!  You can sign up to pray during collection week November 12- November 19.  Each day has its 24 hours cut into 1/2 hour segments.  By signing up for a time slot, you commit to pray during that time and on that day.  You can sign up for as many time segments as you like.
From the website:
“Nothing is more critical to the work of Operation Christmas Child than dedicated prayer support. Last year, more than 2,200 hours of prayer were committed on behalf of the children around the world who received shoe box gifts and the message of God’s love.  We are thankful for the opportunity to partner together again this year in praying for this important work during National Collection Week.  Please join with others around the globe in asking God to continue to bless Operation Christmas Child and to use the shoe box gifts for His glory.”

Please Pray ~ Earthquake off coast of Philippines...

As my local friends know, so many of our shoeboxes go to the Philippines and so our area has committed to pray for the people of the Philippines. Other boxes from our area go to other nations in the Pacific, including Indonesia. This earthquake has also caused a risk for tsunami for all these areas. Join in prayer, that the people would be spared, that Gods comfort would pour out, and His Hand of protection would be on these people.

From CNN:
(CNN) -- An earthquake with a magnitude of 7.9 has struck off the coast of the Philippines, the U.S. Geological Survey said Friday.

The quake prompted a tsunami warning for parts of Indonesia, the Philippines, Taiwan, Japan, Guam and other areas, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said.

"An earthquake of this size has the potential to generate a destructive tsunami that can strike coastlines near the epicenter within minutes and more distant coastlines within hours," the tsunami warning center said.

The quake, which was about 20 miles deep, struck just before 8:50 p.m., the agency said. Its center was about 65 miles southeast of the town of Guiuan, in the Philippine province of East Samar.

Pray for those who were in the path of the Texas storms and for Samaritan's Purse and others who go help

http://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/articles/responding_to_texas_tornadoes

April 5, 2012
Responding to Texas Tornadoes

Samaritan’s Purse disaster relief teams are in North Texas to provide relief in the wake of a major storm that spawned numerous twisters

Samaritan’s Purse is responding to a series of tornadoes that hit the Dallas/Fort Worth area on Tuesday, April 3.

As many as 15 twisters may have touched down, according to the National Weather Service, as a slow-moving storm system moved through North Texas. The violent weather destroyed about 200 homes and damaged hundreds more, according to preliminary estimates.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: Samaritan's Purse is scheduling volunteers for this response. Click here for more information.

Two of the hardest hit areas were Lancaster, a southern suburb of Dallas, and Arlington, a city between Dallas and Fort Worth. There are 300 homes damaged in Lancaster, and at least 488 in Arlington.

Samaritan’s Purse has deployed two Disaster Relief Units. The tractor-trailers arrived early Thursday morning. We are establishing one base at First Baptist Church in Lancaster, and the other at Fielder Road Baptist Church in Arlington. Local volunteers are expected to begin working Friday, and overnight volunteers will start arriving Sunday.

Please pray for the families who were affected by the storms and for our staff and volunteers as we respond.

Operation Christmas Child Weekly Prayer Guide

This is the weekly prayer guide available in bookmark form from Operation Christmas Child.... but I thought it worth posting here. Join us in prayer.

"Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving." 

Colossians 4:2

WEEKLY PRAYER GUIDE

SUNDAY: Pray for the children and their families who receive a shoe box gift, that hearts will be opened to the Good News of Jesus Christ.

MONDAY: Most children who receive shoe box gifts live in desperate circumstances. Pray that God will meet their physical, emotional, and spiritual needs.

TUESDAY: Pray for our ministry partners in countries around the world, especially that the shoe box gifts and follow-up discipleship programs will be effective evangelism tools.

WEDNESDAY: Pray the doors will be opened, so that the Good News can be shared in countries that are not receptive to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

THURSDAY: Pray for those who fill shoe box gifts this year, especially for children, that they will see that it is truly more blessed to give than to receive.

FRIDAY: Pray for those involved in collecting, processing, transporting, and delivering shoe box gifts, including the tens of the thousands of volunteers.

SATURDAY: Pray for the Samaritan's Purse staff located throughout the world as they handle the logistics of Operation Christmas Child.

Prayer Request ~ Heiban Bible College in Sudan Bombed

The Heiban Bible College, a pastor training school constructed and dedicated by Samaritan's Purse in the Nuba Mountains of Sudan, was bombed by the Sudanese Air Force on Wednesday afternoon. Two buildings were destroyed.

This is the latest attack in South Kordofan State, where the Bible college is located. At least four churches built by Samaritan's Purse have been destroyed since August by bombing or burning, including Angolo Church on January 10.

"We are deeply concerned for the welfare and lives of the people of South Kordofan, and we condemn the bombing of churches and Christian facilities," Samaritan's Purse President Franklin Graham said.

Across the border in the newly independent nation of South Sudan, Samaritan's Purse began working in Yida refugee camp in August 2011 after hearing reports of thousands of refugees from the Nuba Mountains, where they were subjected to aerial bombardments and ground attacks from their own government.

A total of 28,500 individuals have been registered in Yida camp, where we are helping with food, nutrition, and clean water.

Please pray for the people in South Kordofan State affected by the ongoing violence, and for our relief work in South Sudan as we bring help in the Name of Christ.

Prayer Request ~ Flooding In Fiji

From OCC ~ "Join us in prayer for Fiji, a nation supported by our affiliate office in Australia.  There is severe flooding in some areas, delaying shoe box distributions and the start of The Greatest Journey.  Pray for safety for those affected and for the hundreds of families who have been evacuated to higher ground.  Praise the Lord that in the areas not impacted The Greatest Journey is going very well."  

Also please continue in prayer for the safety of all volunteers. Pray that children's hearts are being softened and prepared for the message. And pray also for all the children who have heard the gospel.. and those that are going through the Greatest Journey.