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Samaritan's Purse |
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Mission Statement: Samaritan's Purse is a nondenominational evangelical Christian organization providing spiritual and physical aid to hurting people around the world. Since 1970, Samaritan's Purse has helped meet needs of people who are victims of war, poverty, natural disasters, disease, and famine with the purpose of sharing God's love through His Son, Jesus Christ. |
Good Samaritan: The story of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:30-37) gives a clear picture of God's desire for us to help those in desperate need wherever we find them. After describing how the Samaritan rescued a hurting man whom others had passed by, Jesus told His hearers, "Go and do likewise."
For over 40 years, Samaritan's Purse has done our utmost to follow Christ's command by going to the aid of the world's poor, sick, and suffering. We are an effective means of reaching hurting people in countries around the world with food, medicine, and other assistance in the Name of Jesus Christ. This, in turn, earns us a hearing for the Gospel, the Good News of eternal life through Jesus Christ. |
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William Franklin Graham III (born July 14, 1952), known publicly as Franklin Graham, is an AmericanChristian evangelist andmissionary. He is the president and CEO of both the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association(BGEA) and the international Christian relief organization
Samaritan's Purse.
The fourth of five children of evangelist Billy Graham and wife Ruth Bell Graham, Franklin Graham was born and raised in the Appalachian Mountains near Asheville, North Carolina.
Shortly after becoming a Christian, Graham joined Bob Pierce, founder of the organization |
Franklin Graham |
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"Samaritan's Purse," on a six-week mission to Asia. It was during this trip that Graham decided to focus on world relief. In 1979, after the death of Pierce, he became the president of "Samaritan's Purse." Graham now also serves as the organization’s CEO, and heads efforts on behalf of the organization in more than 100 countries, including programs such as "Operation Christmas Child" and the "Children’s Heart Project," among others. |
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In 1974, 22-year-old Graham became a Christian in a hotel room while on a trip to Jerusalem. He married Jane Austin Cunningham later that year. They have four children: William Franklin Graham IV (Will), born in 1975, Roy Austin Graham (1977), Edward Bell Graham (1979) and Jane Austin Graham Lynch (Cissie) (1986). Lynch is now married to the NFL's Corey Lynch, safety for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Graham and his wife have five grandchildren.
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Operation Christmas Child 2010 |
We would like to extend a very special thanks to all in the congregation for partnering with Samaritan's Purse in the work of Operation Christmas Child. In 2010, they were blessed to receive over 5.5 million shoe box gifts in |
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the United States and nearly 2.7 million boxes from 11 other sending countries, bringing our total to some 8.2 million gifts for needy children around the world!
Thousands of churches just like yours from across the United States participate in the project each year. It's a great outreach opportunity that can involve the entire congregation, no matter how large or small your church may be. North Point Community Church in Alpharetta, Georgia, is one of the churches that hosted an Operation Christmas Child packing party during the 2010 holiday season. We hope the video report will encourage your congregation as you share in the excitement of packing boxes, knowing that your gifts are making an eternal difference for children, their families, and their communities.
The ultimate gift we want children to receive goes far beyond the colorfully-wrapped packages. That gift is the Good News of the Savior, Jesus Christ. Through our follow-up discipleship program, "The Greatest Journey," more children than ever before have the opportunity to hear about Jesus and commit their hearts to Him. We are especially excited that "The Greatest Journey" Bible course will be offered in 65 countries this year!
Do you have stories to share with us about the ways Operation Christmas Child has moved hearts in your church? We welcome your testimonies! Correspondence can be e-mailed to occprojectleader@samaritan.org.
Thanks again for your partnership and your commitment to global missions. May God bless your service as you minister to others in His Name.
National Collection Week is November 14-21, 2011.
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Operation Christmas Child |
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Because of the tremendous response from people like you, more than 8 million shoe box gifts were collected last year. These gifts have been distributed worldwide to share the love of Jesus Christ and the joy of Christmas with hurting boys and girls. Together with you and the more than 100,000 dedicated volunteers in the U.S., we know we can accomplish even more this year. |
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How to Pack a Box |
1. Use an empty shoe box (standard size, please) or a small plastic container. You can wrap the box (lid separately), but wrapping is not required. Most importantly, pray for the child who will receive your gift.
2. Determine whether your gift will be for a boy or a girl, and the child’s age category: 2-4, 5-9, or 10-14. Print out the appropriate boy/girl label by down-loading the artwork to the right. Mark the correct age category on the label, and tape the label to the top of your box.
3. Fill the box with a variety of gifts that will bring delight to a child. Use the gift ideas provided on the bottom of this page.
4. Please donate $7 or more for each shoe box you prepare to help cover shipping and other project costs. You can write a check to Samaritan’s Purse (note “OCC” on memo line) and place it in an envelope on top of the gift items inside your box. If you or your family are preparing more than one shoe box, please make one combined donation.
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