Nazareth Lutheran Church

Greetings from the Greater Petersburg Area OCC Team:

As I write this, Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts are crossing oceans, mountain, and deserts – to delight children in more than 100 countries around the world.  We thank God for everyone who prayerfully packed these gift boxes, and we praise Him for using each box to His glory.

But as these children receive their gifts, another journey is about to begin. In the year of 2026, many of them will be enrolling in The Greatest Journey – our discipleship classes designed especially for children whom have just received Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts.

God’s provision and your faithful service made it possible to celebrate another record-breaking collection of shoebox gifts.  In 2025, 12,205,900 Gospel opportunities were lovingly packed and sent out across the world.  Out of those, 10,906,661 were collected right here in the U.S. Praise God. This would not have been possible without your commitment

The Greater Petersburg Area packed 5,551 shoebox gifts.  Because of your service, millions of children will have the opportunity to give their lives to Christ this year, through the knowledge of the Gospel presented with each shoebox gift.

We praise God for providing an army of Connect Volunteers who serve with extraordinary faith and dedication.  Think back to every phone call, every Area Team meeting, every hour labored during National Collection Week, your many prayers, and everything else you and your Area Team accomplished in 2025.  It was all worth it!  God is using your passion, dedication, and faith to plant millions of seeds in over 100 countries this year, and we are grateful for your partnership in this ministry.

Please continue to pray with us.  Pray that God would prepare the heart of each shoebox recipient to respond to the Gospel in faith, embrace discipleship, and become a disciple-maker. Pray also for the safe delivery of shoebox gifts and the ministry of our National Leadership Teams and Regional Leadership Teams.

Please join us in praying that more churches in the Greater Petersburg Area will join us in this ministry.  We are looking forward to partnering with you again this year (2026) as we reach more souls for Christ.

In Christ service,

Mary E. Johnson, Church Relations Coordinator

Sharon Coleman, Church Relations Volunteer

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