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Operation Christmas Child Receives Support at Mississippi College


Operation Christmas Child at Mississippi College

Packed with stuffed animals, hygiene items, schools supplies, soccer balls and lots of love, millions of Operation Christmas Child boxes will soon be shipped across the globe.

The festive red and green shoe boxes are part of Samaritan’s Purse, the humanitarian aid organization led by CEO Franklin Graham at its Boone, North Carolina headquarters.

A successful holiday season enterprise since 1993, Operation Christmas Child begins its 4th year at Mississippi College.

MC students feel blessed to play a role. In mid-November, they began filling boxes with Christmas gifts to donate to boys and girls needing something special. Students pray for the children, too.

MC’s Office of Christian Development is again coordinating activities on the Clinton campus. Boxes will be dropped off at Central Mississippi locations such as First Baptist Church Jackson, and First Baptist Church Clinton.

The goal at the Baptist-affiliated university is to collect 200 Operations Christmas Child boxes, says Beth Masters director of MC Christian Life and Ministries.

The drop-off at Anderson Hall on November 15 begins at 9 p.m. The two-hour event allows students to receive alternate chapel credit, while Blue & Gold clubs and tribes earn points.

Coming about a week before Thanksgiving, Wednesday night activities will resemble a lively Christmas pajama party.

Making the night memorable, Terry Dent, the director of the Office of Student Success, will play a jovial Santa Claus. History professor Otis Pickett will read the Christmas story. And there’s an added attraction: a photo booth sponsored by Followell Fotography of Clinton. There will be pictures of each student sending a gift.

Masters is delighted to see the MC family play a role once again in Operations Christmas Child.

The gifts will go to a Mississippi processing center and will be shipped to across the world. Local believers will be part of handing out the gifts along with a small book containing the Gospel in the language of that country. It’s an opportunity to share gifts with children along with God’s love.

The National Collection Week for Operation Christmas Child runs from November 13-20. An estimated 12 million boxes were delivered to over 150 countries and territories last year.

For more information, contact Beth Masters at 601-925-7366 or dbmasters@mc.edu