Merry Christmas in a shoebox
By Heidi Heater, a senior from Jackson, Ky.
WILMORE, KY—Asbury College students partner with Operation Christmas Child (OCC) to allow children to unwrap the joy of Christmas around the world. The students hope to raise 150 boxes toward OCC’s goal of 8 million.
“We have to remind ourselves what Christmas is all about and what Christ did for us,” David Brenneman, student project foreman, said. “The $20 it will cost to make a box will go further than if you spent the money buying yourself one more pair of shoes or one more video game. This is a chance to shine the love of God in the darkest places around the world. This project is important because it reminds us what Christmas is all about—sacrificial love.”
Throughout the month of November, members of the Asbury College community will celebrate Christmas early by collecting the filled shoeboxes, having a wrapping party and praying for the children who will receive the boxes.
Students chose to promote OCC on the Asbury College campus after communications professor Peter Kerr assigned the class to organize and plan an activity. He wanted students to learn by doing a real-world public relations event. However, to both students and professor, participating in OCC is more than an A in the gradebook.
“Operation Christmas Child allows Christians to do what they are supposed to do at Christmas time,” Kerr said. “Realizing that God has all He needs, we celebrate the Lord’s birth by giving to others in His name, and being the hands and feet of our Savior, delivering the message that we care and that children all over the world, regardless of their circumstances, are loved.”
For more information or to make a donation, please contact Brenneman at david.brenneman@asbury.edu.
Schedule of events:
Nov. 15—Car pooling to Wal-Mart for shoebox gifts, meet outside cafeteria
Nov. 15—Gift Wrapping Party, 7 p.m., Grille
Nov. 19—Box Collection, 5-7 p.m., outside CPO
Prayer vigil for the children, TBA
Released: Nov. 14, 2008
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Tagged: communications and features
