Prince of Peace Lutheran Church partners with Samaritan’s Purse in Operation Christmas Child

Congregation and students filled 550 shoeboxes with children’s gifts.

CARROLLTON — Prince of Peace Lutheran Church and Christian School collected 550 wrapped shoeboxes filled with gifts and Christmas joy for needy children around the world on behalf of Operation Christmas Child. Since 1993, more than 61 million shoe boxes have been packed, shipped, and delivered across the globe.

Photographed: Jan Eckensberger, Nathan Lungren, Samantah Aquino, Evy Eckensberger, Russell Gray

Operation Christmas Child is a program designed to spread the Good News of God’s love to children in desperate situations around the world through gift-filled shoe boxes. Boxes are wrapped in Christmas paper and filled with a variety of donations like school supplies, small toys, hygiene items and personal notes. Prince of Peace Christian School selected the project as their Parent Teacher Fellowship (PTF) Philanthropy Project for the fall semester and worked in conjunction with Prince of Peace Lutheran Church.

“The mission of Operation Christmas Child is to demonstrate God's love in a tangible way to needy children internationally,” said Pastor Luke Biggs, Senior Pastor, Prince of Peace Lutheran Church. “The support shown from our congregation and student families is overwhelming. We cannot thank them enough for joining with us in working to provide a deserving child hope and Christmas joy.”

Operation Christmas Child is sponsored through Samaritan's Purse which is under the direction of Franklin Graham, son of the evangelist, Billy Graham. Samaritan's Purse is a nondenominational evangelical Christian organization providing spiritual and physical aid to hurting people around the world.

Source: Prince of Peace Lutheran Church