Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child has collected and delivered over 232 million gift-filled shoeboxes to children in more than 170 countries and territories. The shoeboxes are filled by volunteers with simple items like toothbrushes, notebooks, pencils and toys and collected locally by “drop off locations” like Craig Valley Baptist Church. Julie Welch has served as the “drop off leader” at CVBC for the past 15 years and is a part of the Western Virginia Area Team of year-round volunteers for Operation Christmas Child. Julie’s mother, Rosie Welch, also serves with the team as a Church Relations team member along with new student relations member, Angie Spence.
On July 27, Craig Valley Baptist will host special speaker Shimea Nguessan, who received an Operation Christmas Child shoebox gift while living in Ivory Coast, Africa. Nguessan will share what that gift meant to him and how his life has been impacted by it.
Area coordinator for the team, Laurie Fitzgerald, will also present a special award to Craig Valley Baptist at this service and said, “The Western Virginia Area Team covers a wide area locally including Craig County, Salem, Roanoke and Alleghany County. We are so grateful for the faithfulness of team members and churches like CVBC that not only help to get the word out about how to participate in Operation Christmas Child but who also collect the shoeboxes and transport them to the next leg of their journey on their way to children around the world. It’s a simple but effective way to show God’s love to a child who may be in an impoverished or war-torn area and just let them know that they are seen and that they matter. This ministry really just could not do what they do without these churches and volunteers. I would really encourage people to come out and hear Shimea’s story and see how they can get involved in Operation Christmas Child. I recently traveled to Ecuador to help with handing out some of the shoeboxes and I can tell you, if you are looking for a way to make a difference, this is it.”
Craig Valley Baptist Church’s pastor, Scott Gabrielson, welcomes everyone to attend this special service on July 27 at 11 a.m. The church is located at 171 Salem Avenue, New Castle.
