Christmas is a time of giving to those in need. Most children around the world receive gifts from family members or friendswhile other children receive nothing, not even a single toy. Operation Christmas Child is an organization that works withseveral churches and Christian universities to donate items such as clothes, toiletries, toys, school supplies and otherneeds to children and families worldwide. The School of Theology at Campbellsville University is pitching in by hosting anOperation Christmas Child Collection week Nov. 18-25.
Marilyn Goodwin, the associate professor at the school of education, has partnered with Sherry Bowen, the administrativeassistant in the School of Theology. Goodwin said Campbellsville has been working with the Operation Christmas Childprogram for approximately 13 years.
“My favorite thing is knowing that each box will touch seven people with the gospel
message,” Goodwin said. “When a child receives the box, they take it back and they share the gospel with their family, theirfriends, people in their villages. It’s an average of seven people per box. It’s just a great way to get the gospel message out”
Bowen said, “I think my favorite thing about the program is how far the gospel can spread with just one shoe box.” Bowenalso said she loves that after receiving a box, boys and girls are invited to enroll in The Greatest Journey, a 12-lessondiscipleship program. According to samaritanspurse.com, Children who participate in this program will learn how to follow Christ and share him with their family and friends.
Bowen also said that Matt Atwood, the football coach, and the football team have been a tremendous help to theorganization for the past several years.
“They have helped us with loading and unloading the shoebox cartons and with loading the trucks throughout NationalCollection Week.” Bowen said, “They have been a huge blessing.”
Atwood said that he enjoys seeing the community joining together to make this event happen and run smoothly.
“I love seeing our team going church to church and in the warehouse loading the boxes and
just having fun with it. It brings serious joy to my heart!” Atwood said. “Our community reaches thousands of kids across theworld and helps to make sure those kids have a great Christmas!”
To ensure a child has a wonderful Christmas, students can either pick up a shoebox from the Ransdell Chapel and buy thesupplies themselves or they can go to samaritanspurse.com, search Operation Christmas Child, click on the article titled‘From One Child to Another” and donate any amount of money they would like.
