Trail Life USA (TrailLifeUSA.com) is proud to partner with Samaritan’s Purse on their annual “Operation Christmas Child” campaign, an initiative dedicated to demonstrating God’s love in a tangible way to children in need.
Each holiday season, Operation Christmas Child encourages individuals, families and organizations to fill shoeboxes with useful items — such as toys, clothing and hygiene products — and then ships those boxes around the world to young people who lack basic necessities. Since its inception in 1993, the campaign has collected and sent more than 168 million shoeboxes to children in over 100 countries.
During National Collection Week in November, Trail Life Troops across the U.S. packed thousands of shoeboxes in their communities.
According to CEO Mark Hancock, the partnership is a natural fit for Trail Life. As the largest Christ-centered, boy-focused scout-type organization in the country, participating in “Operation Christmas Child” aligns with a key tenet in the group’s mission statement: to serve others.
Hancock observed, “The partnership with Samaritan’s Purse is just a natural match for Trail Life. ‘Operation Christmas Child’ is a Christ-centered campaign that wants to see the Gospel spread around the world, and our Troops really get the sense that they are not just putting stuff in a box, but that they are delivering a much bigger gift.”
The campaign also provides an opportunity to point boys toward the example of Christ as a servant and leader.
Hancock noted, “In taking on the form of a boy who ‘grew in favor with God’ and became a man, Jesus became the template for biblical manhood. Christ’s example of servant leadership is the perfect model of biblical masculinity for our Troops, and we challenge our boys to use it as a guide for their own lives.”
Hancock continued, “Some of the best outdoor adventures require an investment. The more you give of yourself, the greater the reward. Jesus defined greatness in a related way: ‘He who is greatest among you shall be your servant’ (Matthew 23:11 NKJV). Trail Life calls for servant leadership. The reward is in blessing others. ‘Operation Christmas Child’ offers the opportunity to serve children around the world through a simple gift.”
Many recipients also participate in Trail Life’s follow-up discipleship program, “The Greatest Journey,” where they learn to follow Christ and share Him with others.
Hancock shared, “‘The Greatest Journey is a 12-lesson program that shares the good news of Jesus with shoebox recipients. The program has transformed not only the lives of those boys and girls, but also their siblings, their families and their entire community.”
Samaritan’s Purse President and CEO Franklin Graham remarked, “We want the children of the world to know that God loves them, cares for them and sent His son from Heaven to earth for them — this is a mission that we know we share with organizations like Trail Life. There is a war on Christianity and moral values right now, but Trail Life is doing a tremendous job at raising up godly young men — and it’s clearly making a difference.”
Hancock said, “From our Troops to our staff, we are a part of the same team, impacting the worldwide church one child at a time.”
Trail Life USA has received praise from some of today’s top Christian voices, including Focus on the Family, Franklin Graham, James Dobson, Mike Huckabee, Alex and Stephen Kendrick, Family Life, Promise Keepers, the American Family Association, and many others.
Trail Life USA?is the premier national character development organization for young men, producing godly and responsible husbands, fathers, and citizens.?Trail Life’s?mission is to guide generations of courageous young?men to honor God, lead with integrity, serve others, and experience outdoor adventure.?Troops exist in all?50 states and are?growing as?Trail Life USA?expands around the country. Find a Troop today, or Start a Troop in your community. Find out more at TrailLifeUSA.com.
Trail Life USA’s K-12 program centers on outdoor experiences?that build a young man’s skills. A robust awards program motivates young men to grow on a personal level to become role models and leaders among their peers. Living the?Trail Life USA?is a journey established on timeless values derived from the Bible.???
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