FIrst Baptist Church of Nocona partners with Samaritan's Purse to pack boxes for Operation Christmas Child in one of our efforts to fulfill The Great Commission. In 2024 we were able to pack almost 200 boxes to encourage young children in remote parts of the world and introduce them to the saving hope of Jesus and the gospel! To be able to learn about the mission of Operation Christmas Child beginning with lessons in our Children's Ministry and Student Ministry as well as share in the effort of packing gift boxes as a congregationat our Packing Party is a rewarding experience filled with hope and love.

Operation Christmas Child partners with local churches and volunteers in more than 170 countries and territories to proclaim the Good News using gift-filled shoeboxes. They train and equip these partners with Gospel materials that help them communicate the message of God's love to boys and girls in a clear, consistent way. Using these colorful resources, churches evangelize their communities in ways that often would not have been possible without the accompanying shoebox gifts. Most shoebox recipients are also invited to participate in our follow-up discipleship program, The Greatest Journey, where they learn to follow the Lord and share Him with others.

Because every child needs Christ, Samaritan's Purse sends Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts to boys and girls living in major cities, dense jungles, arid deserts, war zones, on remote islands, and along lofty mountain ranges. They work closely with local teams to bring these special gifts to children in need—even to hard-to-reach areas where there are few believers or where many have long been hostile to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Some of their newest initiatives increase the accessibility of resources: translating materials into minor languages, using audio translations where there is no written language, developing Braille resources for blind and visually impaired children, and reaching the Deaf community.

"There are still places around the world where the Name of Jesus has never been heard. That’s why we’re sending the Gospel to the ends of the earth through Operation Christmas Child.” Franklin Graham President, Samaritan’s Purse

Children are hearing the Gospel for the first time, and children are taking the Gospel to the ends of the Earth! Communities are being transformed, churches are growing and families are being reached. All this Kingdom work begins with believers like you packing shoebox gifts! Be a part of sending the Gospel to the ends of the earth—come pack a shoebox with First Baptist Church of Nocona at our Packing Party each November!