The Samaritan’s Purse online Newsletter for November 2001 contained the following information:

“Afghanistan is a predominantly Muslim country where the Gospel has made very little progress through the centuries…

…these are a people for whom Christ died, and they represent one of the largest unreached people groups in the world. I personally believe this is a strategic moment in history when the people of Afghanistan are open to hearing the truth of God’s Word. Communism has failed them, their government has failed them, and even their religion has failed them.

Samaritan’s Purse is ready to help the Afghan people… our Operation Christmas Child team is working on plans to deliver gift-filled shoe boxes to demonstrate God’s loving concern to suffering children and their families.”

Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child contains an article that is entitles “Shoe Box Gifts Help Dispel Spiritual Darkness in Haiti that states:
http://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.asp?section=Operation+Christmas+Child&page=occ_stories04.txt

“Voodoo, though, is not a creation of Hollywood. It really exists, and the reality is more frightening than the fictitious movies. Voodoo’s adherents believe in a high god, but not the one True God and His Son, Jesus Christ. They practice animal sacrifice. They worship ancestors, twins, and spirits called loa. During voodoo rituals, worshippers invoke the loa by drumming, dancing, and singing.

An 11-year-old girl named Gabriele is all too familiar with the false religion. Her father is a voodoo priest. Spiritual darkness reigned in the house. But thankfully, God shined His light in her life through Samaritan’s Purse and Operation Christmas Child.

Gabriele was invited to attend a Christmas celebration at a local church. The children were entertained by a play, a puppet show, and songs. They received shoe boxes filled with toys, candy, and other small gifts, donated by Christians to Samaritan’s Purse and shipped to Haiti through the Operation Christmas Child project.

She was overwhelmed by the outpouring of love. A member of the church prayed with her, and she received Jesus as her Savior. Gabriele went home and read “The Greatest Gift Of All” booklet, and learned more about her new faith.

Gabriele saw an opportunity to share her faith. While people were waiting to see the voodoo priest, Gabriele would tell them about Jesus and pray with them. Many received Christ. Delivered from their sins and freed from the grip of voodoo, they returned home.

When her father came out to an empty courtyard, he asked where the people were who had been waiting to see him. Gabriele replied that they had been healed because of the power of Jesus.

Her father became angry. She was forced to leave home, and she moved in with the local pastor and his family. The incident didn’t shake her faith, however, and she continued to tell others about Jesus. Within a couple of months her mother and her brothers and sisters became Christians, as did many others in the village. The father had to stop practicing voodoo because the whole area had changed, thanks to the faith of a little child that was ignited by a simple shoe box gift."

“That’s one of the things about Samaritan's Purse,” Michael said. “It’s not just about giving the boxes so the children can receive presents. Giving the boxes actually evangelizes more than people think.  It’s been a blessing in Haiti. Haiti is a very superstitious country. With Samaritan’s Purse helping out with the shoe boxes, it really has helped us bring in souls.”

For more information on “Voodoo” see:
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2002/10/1021_021021_taboovoodoo.html

The United Nations Declaration of the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief

The United Nations Declaration of the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief, Proclaimed by the General Assembly resolution 36/55 of 25 November, 1981, Article 5.2. states:

http://www.unhchr.ch/html/menu3/b/d_intole.htm

http://www.humanrightsreference.com/appendix8.html

http://www.hri.ca/uninfo/treaties/17.shtml

2. Every child shall enjoy the right to have access to education in the matter of religion or belief in accordance with the wishes of his parents or, as the case may be, legal guardians, and shall not be compelled to receive teaching on religion or belief against the wishes of his parents or legal guardians, the best interests of the child being the guiding principle.

It would appear that Samaritan’s Purse, through Operation Christmas Child, has apparently violated the rights of the “voodoo priest” and has no qualms about undermining the social fabric of the communities it operates within.

Samaritan's Purse Operation Christmas Child Exposed...