This time of year, one of the greatest joys is seeing a child’s face light up as they eagerly tear into a Christmas gift. Many of us have fond memories of doing that when we were little, and you may have enjoyed that as you handed something to your child, grandchild, niece, or nephew; you may even be struggling to contain your excitement at this very moment as you look forward to giving a present. With the awareness of that joy then, it is painfully heartbreaking to face the reality that many around the world do not receive a present on Christmas. For disciples of Jesus, the question is always how we will respond to such heartaches, and for disciples at Frankford Plains UMC (FPUMC), the answer is engaging in mission through Operation Christmas Child Shoeboxes (OCC).
OCC is a ministry of the international relief organization, Samaritan’s Purse, which has blessed 232 million children in more than 170 countries and territories.[1] OCC became one of the beloved, traditional missions of FPUMC starting in 2016, and was spearheaded by Ms. Shirley Hill (who this past March celebrated her 80th year as a member) and the late Virginia Gebauer (d. 2022). The number of shoeboxes produced by the church since 2016 has consistently increased almost every year, going from 109 in 2016, to 916 for 2025. While falling short of the astounding 1,056 shoeboxes in 2024, it is still nearly unbelievable when one considers the size of FPUMC (~81 members, ~28 average weekly worship attendance), especially in comparison to the OCC output of much larger churches.
At FPUMC, OCC is a year-round effort; Ms. Hill and her “elves” regularly begin planning for the next year even as the boxes for one year are in the process of being picked up. Beginning in January, each month the church invites worshipers to bring a specific item for the shoeboxes (i.e. notebooks, crayons, etc.); these are placed at the altar during worship services, reflecting their place as a spiritual offering. These gifts are supplemented by the deals Ms. Hill secures through the partnerships she has established with area businesses, as well as the delicious homemade soups sold year-round to benefit the mission. Additionally, one month of the year is dedicated to collecting monetary donations to support this ministry, and in recent years, the church has expanded the effort through offering friends and members the opportunity to donate towards memorial shoeboxes in memory or honor of a loved one. When the time comes to start packing the boxes, Ms. Hill and her “elves” work tirelessly in the church’s OCC base of operations (Ms. Hill’s garage and basement) until the pickup day arrives.
Whether through prayer, monetary or other material donations, hands-on service, or promoting the mission, OCC presents many different opportunities for friends and members of FPUMC to join together to share the love of God with children around the world. The nearly unbelievable results (if it wasn’t for the unfathomable nature of God’s grace), remind us that nothing is impossible with God, and inspires the church to continue pushing past boundaries and expectations, following the Spirit in moving towards the day of wholeness for All Creation. May you too be moved by the Spirit to prayerfully go, with God’s help, farther than you can ask, think, or imagine.
[1] https://www.samaritanspurse.org/operation-christmas-child/mission-and-history/