12,639 shoeboxes loaded

Because He Lives had two semi loads of filled shoeboxes that were delivered to the Operation Christmas Child processing center in Atlanta. A total of 12,639 boxes were collected from an area of eight surrounding counties.
After being processed in Atlanta, these boxes will be shipped by Samaritan’s Purse to over one hundred different countries all over the world. That equals many, many smiles and happy faces. But that is not the end. Each child who receives a shoe box will have an opportunity to go through a 12 week Bible study known as the Greatest Journey. The Greatest Journey teaches the children about Jesus christ and how He can save them and help them.
Because He Lives extends a big thank you to everyone who packed a shoebox or helped in any other way. Thank you to the many churches who helped make this possible. Also a big thank you to the family of a special friend who helped bring Operation Christmas Child to our area. Mr. Don Varnadore graciously volunteered to deliver the boxes to Atlanta the very first year we collected boxes. He carried about 1700 boxes on a corn trailer in 2001. Each year after that until his death he used the big silver van to take the shoeboxes to the processing center. When he died, his family donated this van to Because He Lives Ministries. The big silver van sits on our yard waiting its annual trip to Atlanta. Thank you to Samuel Miller, and his daughter Presley, for being the driver and safely delivering these boxes each year.
Operation Christmas Child is a huge project and it involves many people who are blessed to be a part of it. If you did not participate this time, please make plans to pack boxes next year. Each box will make a huge difference in the life a child somewhere in this world. If you would like to volunteer to be a part of our team, we welcome you.