The Tribune

By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

SAMARITAN’S Purse Operation Christmas Child Bahamas has touched hundreds of children’s lives with shoebox gifts and their goal is to reach 20,000 children throughout The Bahamas this year.

OCC is one of the largest projects of Samaritan’s Purse, which is an international relief organisation headed by Franklin Graham. The programme provides free gift boxes and educational booklets to children ages 2-14 throughout the world during Christmas time or shortly thereafter.

OCC Bahamas was launched six years ago. So far, the project has been held in Grand Bahama, Nassau, Abaco, Exuma, Andros, Long Island, Eleuthera, Exuma, and a small percentage in Cat Island.

“We are still reaching out to children who have not received a shoebox gift throughout the Bahama Islands. This year, our goal is to reach 20,000 children, adding the islands of Bimini, Cat Island and Inagua, while completing the coverage in islands we have already started,” said a local spokesperson.

In addition to distributing shoebox gifts, OCC conducts a 12-week discipleship course called The Greatest Journey (TGJ) to help the children become better, productive citizens.

Over the weekend, over 160 individuals from churches throughout Grand Bahama participated in Ministry Partner and The Greatest Journey (TGJ) training at the Access Training Centre on East Sunrise and Coral Road on January 27, and at A Social Affair Convention Centre on January 28 from 9am – 2pm.

The spokesperson said the mission of OCC is to demonstrate God’s love in a tangible way to needy children around the world.

“Operation Christmas Child Bahamas is pleased to be a part of this worldwide programme and believe that this partnership would only help us to be better citizens in caring for and disciplining the youth of our nation,” the spokesperson added.

The National Leadership Team is comprised of National Coordinator for the Bahamas Karen Armbrister, National Discipleship Coordinator Charlene Wright; National Church Mobilisation Coordinator Shervin Green; National Prayer Coordinator Mervin Henfield; National Logistics Coordinator Raymond Simozne, and National Resource Coordinator Harveyann Newbold.

There are also regional leadership teams on the various islands, consisting of four to six members, reflecting the NLT positions. Ministry Partner and The Greatest Journey Discipleship trainings will continue through March and distribution events will be held in February and March.

Churches interested in participating in the programme can make contact at info@karazim.com or on Facebook: Operation Christmas Child Bahamas.