Mission and Outreach Ministry
We are to gather together and to reach out as a community of believers. This ministry supports our national and international missionaries by promoting the four major mission offerings of the year. This ministry also plans and encourages mission trips, involvement in ABW and ABM, as well as outreach activities in the local community. “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28:19-20)
SHBC Weekly Update
October 9, 2024
What’s happening at Sunset Hills?
Operation Christmas Child has arrived. The stack of shoeboxes is in the Sunset Hills narthex, ready to be taken home and filled with toys, school and personal care items, and things that will make those less fortunate a little happier.
Sunset Hills filled about 45 boxes last year and we have more than 50 boxes assembled this year. Please note that some of the boxes are a bit smaller, left over from years past. The newer boxes are about an inch wider and an inch longer.
The OCC website – https://www.samaritanspurse.org/ -- has lots of information to help those filling the boxes, such as what can or can’t be included. It is important to note that the shoeboxes need to close, so don’t include items too large to properly close the lid. The boxes have to be stacked tightly for shipping. Churches throughout Omaha will deliver their boxes to several receiving locations. Our boxes need to be returned to Sunset Hills by Sunday, November 17, so they can be delivered on time.
Here is some important information from the OCC website:
Operation Christmas Child is a project of Samaritan’s Purse, an international relief organization. The mission is to provide local partners around the world with shoeboxes filled with small toys, hygiene items and school supplies as a means of reaching out to children in their own communities with the Good News of Jesus Christ. We ship these simple gifts outside the United States to children affected by war, poverty, natural disaster, famine and disease.
The program began in 1990 in the United Kingdom. Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child has delivered gift-filled shoeboxes to over 220 million children in more than 170 countries and territories.
For children around the world, a shoebox is often their very first gift. Given together with the Good News of Jesus Christ, it communicates God’s love to a boy or girl in need. So, it is important to make sure your gift is …
FUN—includes a “wow” item and other quality toys
FULL—packed to the brim with additional school supplies and personal care items
PERSONALIZED—prayed over and contains a note and photo, which are often the child’s favorite items!
Shoebox gifts are shipped out from our Processing Centers by the middle of December, and depending on the distance they must travel, some are delivered by Christmas — primarily those in Central/South America and Eastern Europe. Most of the gifts are sent via ship.
Although the collection of Operation Christmas Child gifts is during the Thanksgiving/Christmas season, the delivery of some gifts may be delayed due to complex international shipping procedures. They may not clear customs in receiving countries until spring. In addition, many countries that receive shoebox gifts must transport the gifts to rural areas using very poor roads. Distributions typically occur from late December through spring each year, extending the joy of Christmas to children that receive them! You are welcome to include personal contact information at your own discretion in hopes of establishing communication with the child who receives your gift.
-- Terry Anderson, Missions and Outreach Ministry leader
Interested working with the Mission/Outreach Ministry?
If you have any questions about our Discipleship Ministry, we would love to hear from you.
