“Samaritan's Purse is a nondenominational evangelical Christian organization providing spiritual and physical aid to hurting people around the world. Since 1970, Samaritan's Purse has helped meet needs of people who are victims of war, poverty, natural disasters, disease, and famine with the purpose of sharing God's love through His son, Jesus Christ. The organization serves the church worldwide to promote the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.”

 
http://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.asp?section=About+Us:

"Samaritan's Purse is a nonprofit international Christian relief organization with a single-minded commitment to evangelism. We meet critical needs among hurting people for one ultimate purpose: so that men, women, and children will come to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Our ministry is rooted in Scripture and based on the Biblical story of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37).

In over 80 countries around the world, Samaritan's Purse helps those who are suffering from the effects of war, famine, disease, extreme poverty, and natural disasters. Our assistance helps alleviate this suffering and earn a hearing for the Gospel.

The needs we meet are as diverse as the people we encounter along life's road. Food, clothing, shelter, medical care... freshwater wells, water filters, and agricultural equipment... Bibles, Christian literature, and transportation for national church workers--these and other essentials are given by Samaritan's purse to further the work of world evangelization."

"Some refer to it as a Christian relief organization but really what it is is an Evangelistic Ministry that works through relief always seeking to find that opportunity to bring the Gospel home. And I think that pretty much sums up what Franklin is all about. He's always looking for that opportunity. Whether it's in Ethiopia because there's famine and he puts up a well so the people will have water. He'll put a preacher on the well so they'll hear the Gospel as well."

http://preachtheword.org/99/webcast/online/ram/fg0922a.ram
(minute 7:31 of 48:19) (Real Media Player required)

"It doesn't matter what they ask you, you go right back to the Gospel... Every opportunity in life, twist it and turn it and go right back to the Gospel...

I'm involved in an organization called Samaritan's Purse and we work in war areas and famine areas around the world. We've got a large team in Kosovo, we've got a large team in Turkey. We've got people in the East in North Carolina with the floods...

And I think when people are down in the ditch along life's road and you stop and help them they're going to listen to what you have to say. So stop and help them. And after you've helped them then tell them about God's son Jesus Christ. I mean you've done something for them. They're going to receive what you have to say... You have earned the right. That's when I believe friends that you can share with them the Good News, the Gospel and they're gonna receive it…

You've got to tell them. You've got to tell them about God's son, You've got to tell them they're sinners, How are they gonna know that by watching you? You've got to tell them they're sinners, you've got to tell them that they've got to confess their sins. You've got to tell them that they've got to repent and turn from their sins. You've got to tell them about God's provision (?) for their sins, Jesus Christ who came out of heaven and died on the cross and shed his blood and that if they confess and repent and by faith receive Christ into their heart God will forgive them.”

http://preachtheword.org/99/webcast/online/ram/fg0922a.ram (Minute 17:40) (Real Media Player required)

“The Good News is that there is a God in heaven that loves you and has provided a way for you to be with him in heaven and that's through faith in his son the Lord Jesus Christ. This is the Gospel. This is the message. That if we confess our sins and we repent of our sins and by faith receive Jesus Christ into our hearts, God will forgive us and he will make way for us to be with him in heaven. This is the Gospel. This is the Good News.

And Paul said I'm not ashamed of it. No sir I'm not ashamed of it. Why? Because there's power in it. There's power in the Gospel. And I tell you what friends. Every opportunity that God gives me in life I want to use to communicate the Gospel. To tell people that they're sinners. That they've been separated from God.”

http://preachtheword.org/99/webcast/online/ram/fg0922a.ram
(minute 17:40 of 48:19) (Real Media Player required)

"This program provides an opportunity for individuals of all ages to be involved in a simple, hands-on missions project that reaches out to suffering children while focusing on the true meaning of Christmas – Jesus Christ, God’s greatest gift…  Operation Christmas Child delivered Christmas gifts and the Good News of Jesus Christ to millions of children across the globe.”

"We have a program at Samaritan's Purse called Operation Christmas Child... we just take shoeboxes and ask people to take an empty shoebox and fill it with items for a child and then we take them to countries around the world...

And then we take these boxes and we give these gifts. But we do it through the churches around the world. And we um put on a little play. Well the Pastor will put on a little play. He will give the boxes to kids in his neighborhood. But every child that we give a box to we want to present the Gospel of Jesus Christ to. The kid gets the box. He gets a gift, who's never had a gift in his life and the church has the right and opportunity to take the Gospel and give the Gospel to him."

http://preachtheword.org/99/webcast/online/ram/fg0922a.ram
(minute 31:58 of 48:19) (Real Media Player required)

"India can be a difficult mission field. Many states have anti-conversion laws that make it hard for Christians to work. But Operation Christmas Child breaks down barriers and provides a way to
reach the children. More than 325,000 shoe box gifts were distributed in 2003, and 265,000 children were enrolled in follow-up Bible study
programs. 'Operation Christmas Child has opened up new doors without question,'said a Samaritan's Purse ministry partner. 'We're seeing the Lord do
wonderful things'"

http://www.samaritanspurse.org/occ/pdf/2003_OCC_SR_CAN.pdf

At the Sept 20-22, 1999, Preach the Word – Not Ashamed of the Gospel conference in Anahein, California, Franklin Graham said:

"We need to put God back in our schools."
http://preachtheword.org/99/webcast/online/ram/fg0922a.ram  
(Real Media Player required)

“Operation Christmas Child, a unique project of Christian relief and evangelism organization Samaritan’s Purse, delivers gifts to hurting children while also telling them about God’s greatest gift, His Son, Jesus Christ.”

The video that accompanies this promotional literature states that the intent of the gifts is to:

“…open the door for the message of eternal life in Jesus Christ.”  

The Operation Christmas Child Press Kit Fact Sheet (November 2002) also states: 

“Once the boxes are transported to some 100 countries around the world, Samaritan's Purse representatives and national partners will travel by truck, bus, train, helicopter, boat, foot, dog sled, and even mule to hand-deliver the gifts, along with a colorful children's book of the Christmas story.”   

"Operation Christmas Child does much more than just give presents. It also provides an opportunity to tell children and families about God's greatest Gift, Jesus Christ.

"The Greatest Gift," a Gospel booklet translated into more than 50 languages, usually is given out in conjunction with the shoe boxes. In Muslim countries that prohibit outright evangelism, such as Afghanistan, it's not always possible to hand out the booklets. But even in Afghanistan, the distribution teams were able to talk about God."

"The boxes go to a processing center to ensure that all of the presents are appropriate for the children, and if necessary, to add more presents. Before the boxes are delivered to hurting children around the world, Gospel literature is added to the boxes. Wherever shoe-box gifts are distributed, children hear the message of God's greatest Gift -- His Son, Jesus Christ."

“…This enables them to reach these children and their families more effectively and efficiently in planting the seeds for the Kingdom and spreading the love of Jesus Christ, which is the ultimate goal of Operation Christmas Child… If you would give us your mailing address, we can send a copy of the Christian Literature which is distributed with the shoe box gifts.”  

In another e-mail from the Operation Christmas Child Call Centre in Canada states: “The booklets are not placed in the shoe boxes but are offered to each child at the time of distribution. Most children receive it...”

It is the intent of Operation Christmas Child that this evangelistic religious booklet accompany each of the shoeboxes delivered. The booklet is entitled “The Most Important Story Ever Told” and "The Greatest Gift". The 29 page booklet tells an evangelizing story of Jesus in a proselytizing manner and is translated into various languages in the destination countries and (if permitted by the destination country) distributed with the shoeboxes.  

Under Promotional Ideas, the OCC website states: 

“The cost of Operation Christmas Child including processing, transportation, and the production of Gospel literature is much more than the $5 we ask people to enclose with each shoe box.”  

Another e-mail from Samaritan's Purse (Dec 13, 2002) states,:

"True, Christian literature is handed out with each box. We assure that each child sees the literature and understands what it is about. Evangelizing is important to this ministry."

“I believe God has blessed this program because it is about more than Christmas presents. It is about introducing children and their families to God’s greatest gift—His Son, Jesus Christ. As long as evangelism is the focus, God will continue to bless it.”  

“Shoe box gifts are distributed along with The Greatest Gift of All, an illustrated booklet that gives a clear presentation of the true meaning of Christmas—God’s love and salvation in Jesus Christ. The booklet has been printed in 65 languages. Local churches and ministry groups help us deliver the gifts and Gospel booklets…

After the shoe boxes are distributed, we also provide follow-up materials to give children further opportunities to accept Christ and grow in their faith. One such discipleship program enrolls boys and girls in a 10-lesson Bible study. Hundreds of thousands of children have participated in this program.”  

"Millions of people filled shoe boxes with toys, school supplies, and other gifts. Tens of thousands gave of their time to collect or process the gifts, while others gave monetarily to cover the cost of processing and shipping the boxes, as well as the printing of Gospel literature in 54 languages.

As the shoe box gifts and literature are delivered around the world, children and their families experience God’s unconditional love."

http://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.asp?
section=Operation+Christmas+Child&subsection=Special+Report

"Along with shoe box gifts, millions of children are given Gospel booklets in their own language."

http://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.asp?section=Operation+Christmas+Child

"Operation Christmas Child (OCC) sends a message of hope to children in desperate situations around he world through gift-filled shoe boxes and Christian literature.

Your shoe box not only is a physical demonstration of God's love, but carries with it, along with a children's version of the Gospel added by Samaritan's Purse in the language of the child who receives your gifts, the opportunity to change a young life for Christ."

http://www.gaithernet.com/users/cartwrightg/occ.htm

"Operation Christmas Child, the shoebox ministry of Samaritan's Purse, went to Afghanistan this Christmas... It isn't the first time that Operation Christmas Child has had the opportunity to spread the Gospel in Central Asia. In one country it is illegal to talk about Jesus outside the walls of churches. But churches are allowed to give out shoe boxes. People questioned, 'Why are you doing this?' said a national partner in that country. 'We said we want to do this because we love you. We distributed about 100 boxes. The following week 80 of those children who had received boxes went to Sunday school'."

"At the distribution in Dasht-i-Qala, the provincial governor explained that some of the gifts had come from New York children - children who had also suffered at the hands of terrorists and extremists. Even more important for his Muslim audience, he acknowledged that the gifts came from Christians who wanted to share God's love. 'These gifts are from Christian children in the West', he said. 'They want you to know that God has not forgotten you'." 

[Page 12 OCC Special Report]  

In a promotional video, a spokesperson for Operation Christmas Child says:

“It’s not just a big gift. It’s not just humanitarian aid. It is a tool for evangelism so thank you for helping us evangelize our people”.  

“The rallies and distributions drew people from miles away… What’s truly exciting is that it is possible to present the Good News of Jesus Christ at every distribution, even in cultures that don’t traditionally celebrate Christmas. The children are eager to read the Gospel literature printed in their own language. The Pastors and members of the churches Operation Christmas Child works through are excited about this program because it gives them a very effective outreach tool.”  

“Whether you’re giving a box, you’re sorting a box or your handing out a box, we’ll all get the same reward for what we’ve done in lives being changed and making sure the Gospel is being spread through a shoebox.”

http://www.samaritanspurse.org/ram/OCC.ram
(Real Media Player required)

"Last year, The New York Times claimed that Christian relief and development agency Samaritan's Purse had blurred church and state lines by using grants from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to 'preach, pray, and seek converts' in El Salvador.

When inviting corporate sponsorships for its annual Operation Christmas Child, Samaritan's Purse openly acknowledges that the heart of the program is spreading the gospel."

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2002/113/31.0.html

"Operation Christmas Child is sponsored to a great degree by Christian churches and organizations as a means for spreading the gospel to unreached parts of the world. That makes every shoebox packer a missionary."

http://www.grandforks.com/mld/grandforksherald/news/opinion/9769384.htm

“Schools supporting this massive fund-raising effort for a particular Christian evangelical ministry are failing in their responsibility to respect the dignity of all of their students. I cannot imagine any other religious groups being given permission to enter schools and channel our children’s enthusiasm and money to promote their specific beliefs in this manner.”

“Graham admits that the shoe box program is 'not just about reaching children with a shoe box.... this project focuses on sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ with them through Christian literature distributed with the shoe boxes' (Operation Christmas Child brochure).

I was also assured by a supervisor in the Samaritans Purse Canadian headquarters in Calgary that, besides being given biblical literature translated into their native language, each child wishing to receive a box will attend a mandatory Christian 'rally' in which the word of the Lord is proclaimed, in every country where it is legal. Further, a majority of the boxes are distributed in communities that have a resident evangelical Christian pastor who can provide 'follow-up' ministering. This is gift-giving with strings attached."

He also adds, “Schools supporting this massive fund-raising effort for a particular Christian evangelical ministry are failing in their responsibility to respect the dignity of all of their students. I cannot imagine any other religious groups being given permission to enter schools and channel our children’s enthusiasm and money to promote their specific beliefs in this manner.”