Teaching and Discipleship through Operation Christmas Child
Teaching and discipleship go "hand-in-hand." The reason I serve in Operation Christmas Child is that it is not just a ministry that gives items to children around the world, but it gives the greatest gift of all, the message and Good News of Jesus Christ! There is hope in the message of God's Word. There is hope in the message of Christ! One of the greatest parts of OCC is that children may join a discipleship process and hear about this Good News!
What Good News? The Good News that Jesus Christ loves them, God knows their name, they have not been forgotten, that someone cares about them, and that they are important to God! What a message of hope to bring to children in desolate circumstances such as poverty stricken areas, natural disasters, and war-torn areas of our world. While chaos and destruction are in our world, there is still the hope of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
I am called to teach God's Word, since the age of 13. God has called me to bring Good News to others. My friend, there is hope today. When we trust the Almighty God, who sent His Son Jesus to us, then we have hope beyond this world. This hope brings smiles to many children around the world through Operation Christmas Child. Children learn of Jesus through the discipleship program and when they complete the discipleship program, the churches celebrate these children with a ceremony, a Bible in their own language, and encouragement to keep growing in Jesus Christ and His love for them.
It would not be enough to just give a gift of a shoebox filled with toys, hygiene items, and hard candy. The box must be filled with prayer, with His love for the child, and a hope that goes beyond the material gift of the shoebox. It is the gift of teaching and discipleship for children around the world.
If you are a Christian teacher, are you using your gifts to disciple others? Discipleship is the "Greatest Journey" of all.
