DONATE NOW

One Challenge
  • HOME
    • What’s the Latest OC News?
    • US Mobilization Center
    • Global Partners
    • Prayer Priorities
  • ABOUT
    • Who is OC?
    • OC Global Alliance Overview
    • Resources
    • Statement of Faith and Guiding Principles
    • Board of Directors
    • OC Research website
    • What’s New on OneChallenge.org
  • VIDEO
  • GO
    • Mobilization blog
    • Where Do People Serve?
    • Entrance Steps
      • Initial Contact form
    • Field Experience Internships
    • Ministry Opportunities
      • Long-Term Missions
      • Short-term Missions
    • Ministry Fields
    • Honest Answers About Missions
    • Sports Ambassadors
  • GIVE
    • Give Now
    • How Can I Give?
    • Account Login
    • Recurring Giving
    • Giving Appreciated Assets
      • Gift Planning
      • Giving Appreciated Assets (stocks, bonds, mutual fund shares, real estate)
      • Donor Advised Funds
    • Leave a Legacy – Wills, Trusts & Estate Planning
    • Planned Giving Online Tools
    • “Faith Promise” Giving
  • PRAY
    • How Can I Pray?
    • Daily Prayer Points
    • From the Pastor’s Pen
  • CONTACT
    • How Do I Contact You?
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Vimeo Videos
    • Privacy Policy
  • HOME
    • What’s the Latest OC News?
    • US Mobilization Center
    • Global Partners
    • Prayer Priorities
  • ABOUT
    • Who is OC?
    • OC Global Alliance Overview
    • Resources
    • Statement of Faith and Guiding Principles
    • Board of Directors
    • OC Research website
    • What’s New on OneChallenge.org
  • VIDEO
  • GO
    • Mobilization blog
    • Where Do People Serve?
    • Entrance Steps
      • Initial Contact form
    • Field Experience Internships
    • Ministry Opportunities
      • Long-Term Missions
      • Short-term Missions
    • Ministry Fields
    • Honest Answers About Missions
    • Sports Ambassadors
  • GIVE
    • Give Now
    • How Can I Give?
    • Account Login
    • Recurring Giving
    • Giving Appreciated Assets
      • Gift Planning
      • Giving Appreciated Assets (stocks, bonds, mutual fund shares, real estate)
      • Donor Advised Funds
    • Leave a Legacy – Wills, Trusts & Estate Planning
    • Planned Giving Online Tools
    • “Faith Promise” Giving
  • PRAY
    • How Can I Pray?
    • Daily Prayer Points
    • From the Pastor’s Pen
  • CONTACT
    • How Do I Contact You?
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Vimeo Videos
    • Privacy Policy

Learning about Operation Christmas Child in Spain

chr_childlogoThough Katie Eller’s (OC MK) teachers are fairly antagonistic to religious conversations, they were instantly interested when Katie presented the Operation Christmas Child project in her community college class in southern Spain. Giving Christmas gifts to children in Equatorial Guinea sounded like a great project. Katie even had the opportunity to show the instructional video – that not only shows how to prepare a shoebox full of gifts, but also reminds people to pray for the children who will receive the gifts.

Operation Christmas Child has been active in Spain for the past four years. A ministry of Samaritan’s Purse, in Spain it is under the auspices of Decision. Last year, Spaniards generously donated more than 22,000 shoeboxes, all sent to Spanish-speaking Equatorial Guinea in Africa. Shoeboxes full of gifts, toiletries and school supplies are given to children in needy areas, through local churches. Children who receive a shoebox also receive a small picture book that shares the gospel and invites children to participate in a correspondence Bible course.

chr_child1_600px

The Eller family got involved with Operation Christmas Child through their local church, which serves as a collection point for the boxes from all of Malaga province. The Ellers and others on their southern Spain team were sponsored by Decision in order to receive their visas for Spain. “We initially got involved in order to say ‘thank you’ to Decision for helping us get our visas,” Laura says. “But we keep at it because it’s fun to see the generosity and joy people have in participating.”

The Fraternity of Pastors in Malaga unite together to support the project, and more than 30 churches in the area participate in making boxes. But not just churches participate. Last year, Laura reports, a woman who works in the neighborhood where the church is located stopped in to see what “all the commotion was about.” She was so excited about the opportunity to participate that she went right out to the store and filled up three shoeboxes. When she returned with the boxes, one of the volunteers explained more about the project and then shared the gospel with her.

chr_child2_600px

Each year, more and more groups and schools get involved. This year, a Christian student group on the Malaga University campus asked for 1,000 brochures. They took the project to the leadership of the university, and because it is a humanitarian project, asked if the university would contribute the five Euros per box, allowing the students to just buy the gifts to fill up the boxes.

Please pray…

Though Operation Christmas Child isn’t an OC ministry, it’s an example of how OC families work together with the Body of Christ around the world. Through local churches and through partnerships with organizations like Decision and Samaritan’s Purse, we are able to see the gospel spread as well as practical needs met.

chr_child3_300pxPray for Operation Christmas Child in Spain, for more than 25,000 shoeboxes to be collected and for the 25,000 children in Equatorial Guinea, and possibly Western Sahara, who will be the recipients of the boxes. Also be praying for continued unity among the Body of Christ in Spain, partially spurred on by projects like this. As believers come together, and as churches and organizations work together for the blessing of the nations, pray that revival will come to Malaga, and to all of Spain.

4 replies added

  1. Kehren January 16, 2014 Reply

    Hi, I have just become a volunteer for Samaritans Purse. The Algarve in Portugal managed 2000 shoeboxes last year but we are hoping to become an independent Samaritans Purse centre specifically for Portugal, similar to the operation you have in Spain. You seem to be doing amazing good works in Spain.
    Kehren

  2. sbo June 11, 2015 Reply

    This is a very good article. Thank you for a great information.

  3. Hayley October 28, 2018 Reply

    How do i find out more about how to participate
    With thanks
    Hayley

    • shannon October 31, 2018 Reply

      Great question! Operation Christmas Child (ONN) in Spain has multiple points around the country for delivery of shoe boxes. There is a local coordinator in every autonomous community, and different “drop off” spots, usually in churches. To find the coordinator nearest you, check out the ONN official website in Spain. https://operacionninodelanavidad.org/

Leave your comment Cancel Reply

(will not be shared)

Latest News

  • Prayer Focus … Get to Know One Challenge
  • 31 Days for the Kingdom: Book and Daily Videos
  • GCPN – Serving through a Global Pandemic
  • Bought at a Price to Glorify God
  • This New Year: Get in SYNC with the Leader of God’s Campaign

Categories

  • Featured
  • Global Partners
  • Honest Answers
  • News
  • Pastor's Pen
  • Prayer Priorities
  • Spiritual Formation
  • Stories From The Field
  • TCKs
  • US Mobilization Center

OC, One Challenge, is a global Christian mission organization. We work together with local churches and leaders to bring God’s transformation to people in communities and nations.

Ministries include Missions Mobilization, Church Planting & Growth, Education, Holistic Ministry, Leadership Development, Member Care, Partnering & Bridge Building, Research, Sports Ministries, as well as Business for Transformation.

One Challenge
  • HOME
  • ABOUT
  • VIDEO
  • GO
  • GIVE
  • PRAY
  • STORIES
  • CONTACT

Copyright ©2021 FourTen Creative. All Rights Reserved

Privacy Policy