Elena Nicholson was eight years old when she and her sister were moved from an abusive, poverty-stricken home into an orphanage in the former Soviet Union. At a time when she was feeling unloved, she was handed an Operation Christmas Child shoebox gift. It was the first gift she had ever received. With the gift, Elena was given a booklet, which seemed like an unbelievable fairy tale. It said the Creator of the universe loved her. She began to pray, hoping for a family for her and her sister—a prayer that was answered in 2004 by a loving family in the United States.
We are excited to welcome Elena this coming Sunday as part of our 2024 Operation Christmas Child launch, where she will share her testimony with us during our morning service.
Operation Christmas Child is a ministry of Samaritan's Purse that aims to spread the love and gospel of Christ through the simple act of giving Christmas gifts every year to children living in poverty, in over 100 different countries. This ministry began in 1990 when two people, Dave and Jill Cooke, were inspired to spread joy and love during Christmas after seeing a report on orphans in Romania. Today, thousands of churches and individuals fill shoeboxes with toys, hygiene items, school supplies, and more to be delivered to children all over the world for Christmas. It is a simple way to help those in need around the world and to spread the joy and message of Christ during the Christmas season.
For more information about Operation Christmas Child, click the button below. You can also stop by the Spotlight Table on Sunday to speak to our OCC team and to pick up your empty shoeboxes.
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