Concordia hosts successful Operation Christmas Child collection

Concordia University, Nebraska hosted a successful Operation Christmas Child collection, packing almost 200 boxes. The project was coordinated by Concordia Director of Global Opportunities Julie Hermann with others including Professor Jamie Hink and volunteer Pam Langewisch.

Operation Christmas Child (OCC) is an annual volunteer outreach project run by Samaritan’s Purse. The OCC ministry aims to bring the gospel to children around the world. Participants pack a shoebox full of toys, personal hygiene items and school supplies, and the shoeboxes are shipped to over 100 different nations around the world. 

“We pray these boxes will bless children with a tangible act of Christian love, plus the opportunity to hear more about the love of Jesus through OCC’s follow up Bible opportunities.”

This year, Concordia packed 196 shoeboxes thanks to Mission Minded Students, Dr. Hink’s PS211/Global Issues class, several athletic teams and many other students, faculty and staff who packed with friends and family or on their own.

“It’s awesome how a small annual activity by a single student group on campus has grown over the past few years to include so many students, staff, groups, and community members to gather items and fill shoeboxes,” said Hermann. “We pray these boxes will bless children with a tangible act of Christian love, plus the opportunity to hear more about the love of Jesus through OCC’s follow up Bible opportunities.”

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. The organization serves the Church worldwide to promote the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.