Shoe box Partners

“The right thought plus the right people in the right environment at the right time for the right reason = the right result.”

Recently I read this statement and it has remained embedded in my mind. As I look back over almost 20 years of ministry with CEF I can think of numerous situations where this formula under God's guiding hand has proved itself again and again.

Some years ago God planted a thought in the mind of Franklin Graham (Samaritan's Purse) which blossomed into a ministry called Operation Christmas Child (OCC). It brought together hundreds of thousands of God's people from around the world who caught the same vision - to show God's love in a practical way to a child in a poverty stricken country or home through a shoe box gift.

In Romania this ministry began almost immediately after the revolution in 1989 and God has blessed it in amazing ways down through the years, as not only a practical way to show God's love, but also to open up doors for the Gospel to be proclaimed! Local churches, mission organisations and children's workers join together in the months of December and January to distribute up to 400,000 shoe boxes which come through the UK branch of OCC. One of our workers said, “I didn't refuse any invitation in my area. If someone asked me to come, I went so that I could bring the Gospel.

”God has now brought together Mail Box Club and CEF to work alongside OCC worldwide to provide the very best evangelistic tools for any pastor or children's worker. A shoebox gift (Samaritan's Purse/OCC - which may mean you if you packed up a shoe box last year), follow up Bible Correspondence lessons given out with each box (Mail Box Club) and Christmas Club packs and training (CEF). What a combination!

Look at what God did with a thought when He brought together the right people, His people, in the right environment at the right time for the right reason! Last year almost 8 million shoe boxes were distributed around the world. That means almost 8 million children came under the sound of the Gospel. Now I don't know about you but that sounds like the right result! Praise God!

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