Pancake Brunch Raises Money for Operation Christmas Child

The smell of hot pancakes hung heavy in the air after the Sunday morning church service at Walnut Creek Downtown on May 29. The pancakes did more than fill hungry bellies after church. Part of Mission to the City for the third year in a row, the pancake brunch raised nearly $700 for Operation Christmas Child (OCC).

Since 1993, OCC – a ministry of Samaritan’s Purse – has delivered gift-filled shoeboxes to over 124 million children affected by war, poverty, natural disasters, and other crises in more than 150 countries and territories. OCC partners with local churches to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with those who receive shoebox gifts. A 12-lesson discipleship program, The Greatest Journey, helps boys and girls learn what it means to follow the Lord and share their faith with others.
The pancake brunch isn’t the only OCC-related Mission to the City project happening this year. Several groups went to the Urbandale home of Central Iowa OCC volunteer to pack shoebox gifts and do other volunteer work.

On July 8, Walnut Creek Church will host the sixth annual Christmas in July party, an OCC shoebox packing party for the whole family. Like last year, our goal will be to pack 2,000 shoebox gifts and raise $14,000 to cover the shipping costs. An anonymous $7,000 donation has already been pledged to the cause.

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By Tim Laehn

Walnut Creek Downtown

Giving Gifts Around the World

National Collection Week for Operation Christmas Child is November 16–23. 

Since 1993, Samaritan's Purse has sent 113 million shoeboxes to children in more than 130 countries through their Operation Christmas Child ministry.

The mission of Operation Christmas Child is to demonstrate God’s love in a tangible way to children around the world, and together with the local church worldwide, to share the Good News of Jesus Christ.

"It's so much more than a box. A lot of these children have never received a gift in their life and have never heard of Jesus Christ," said Kelly Hill of Walnut Creek Windsor Heights. "It is such a blessing to be able to share the gospel with millions of children and families through a shoebox."

Loren Pavel, of Walnut Creek Windsor Heights, and Hill coordinate Operation Christmas Child for Walnut Creek. As a team they get the information out to all the locations and order the materials needed to equip people to pack boxes.

Later this month they will collect and deliver the boxes to New Hope Assemblies of God Church in Urbandale, an Iowa collection center. All boxes collected in Iowa will be sent to the processing center in Minneapolis for inspection. From there, boxes are shipped to children all over the world.

Loren and Kelly both serve on the year-round Operation Christmas Child volunteer team with Sarah Johnson, Stephanie Hoch, and Tim and Sara Laehn, all of Walnut Creek Downtown.

At Walnut Creek Downtown's Christmas In July event this summer, volunteers packed over 2,000 shoeboxes.

The deadline to turn in boxes is Sunday, November 22. Boxes can be brought to any Walnut Creek location. For information about how to get involved with the year-round volunteer team, contact Kelly at kellyhill25@hotmail.com.

Samaritan’s Purse is an international Christian relief and evangelism organization headed by Franklin Graham. To learn more about Operation Christmas Child, visit www.samaritanspurse.org/occ/.

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By Jackie Wallentin  

Walnut Creek Windsor Heights 

2,000 Shoebox Gifts Packed During Christmas in July

Christmas in July participants stopped by several stations as they packed boxes.

Hundreds of people from Walnut Creek Church and the Des Moines community gathered together at Walnut Creek Downtown on July 31 to pack 2,000 shoeboxes with gifts for children in impoverished and war-torn countries. All 2,000 boxes were packed in just over two hours.

For the fifth year in a row, Walnut Creek Church partnered with Operation Christmas Child (OCC), a ministry of Samaritan’s Purse, to host the Christmas in July packing party. For the second year in row, the gift-filled shoeboxes are being sent to special-access countries, which are resistant to the Gospel and OCC’s efforts. The goal is for the boxes to make a way for the Gospel to get to children who would have little to no access to it otherwise.

The event also raised almost $2,000 for OCC through donations and proceeds from a dinner that was served. When combined with previous fundraising efforts – and an anonymous donation of $7,000 – a total of nearly $12,000 has been raised so far to help cover the cost of shipping the boxes overseas.

New this year, the event featured guest speaker Timur Nesbitt, who received an OCC shoebox – the first gift he had ever been given – as a 13-year-old boy living in an orphanage in Central Asia. Inside the shoebox was a yo-yo, Tootsie Roll candy, school supplies, socks, toothpaste and a letter and photo from a boy in Texas who had packed the box.

“Through the shoebox, I felt loved,” Timur said. “Someone took the time to put in those items that became my favorites. I wondered a lot how Christians who didn’t know me were willing to give me a gift.”

Three years later, Timur was adopted by an American missionary family from Iowa. He learned about OCC and excitedly told them he had received a shoebox gift. Timur plans to return to his home country one day to bring the message of God’s healing love to others who are hurting.

Samaritan’s Purse is an international Christian relief and evangelism organization headed by Franklin Graham. Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child has hand-delivered more than 100 million gift-filled shoeboxes to needy children in more than 130 countries. To learn more about Operation Christmas Child, visit www.samaritanspurse.org/occ/.

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By Tim Laehn 

Walnut Creek Downtown 

‘Tis the Season for Giving

Volunteers packed 125 boxes for Operation Christmas Child during the East Village Promenade on November 21.

As the East Village kicked off the holiday shopping season with the annual East Village Promenade on Friday evening, Walnut Creek Downtown hosted a gift-packing event for children in need.

Part of the church’s ongoing partnership with Operation Christmas Child, the event gave holiday shoppers and passersby an opportunity to enjoy a cup of hot chocolate while packing a gift for a child in an impoverished, war-torn country. More than 100 people came through the church’s doors Friday evening and packed a total of 125 boxes.

When combined with all congregations, Walnut Creek donated more than 250 gift-filled shoeboxes to Operation Christmas Child this season. This year, all boxes packed in Des Moines will be sent to children in one of five countries: Tanzania, Uganda, India, Belize or Trinidad and Tobago.

Earlier this year, Walnut Creek’s annual Christmas in July event resulted in 1,000 gifts being sent to children in countries with limited access to the Gospel.

Operation Christmas Child is a ministry of Samaritan’s Purse, an international Christian relief and evangelism organization headed by Franklin Graham. Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child has hand-delivered more than 100 million gift-filled shoeboxes to needy children in more than 130 countries. To learn more about Operation Christmas Child, visit www.samaritanspurse.org/occ/.

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By Tim Laehn 

Walnut Creek Downtown 

Christmas in July Exceeds Fundraising Goal

Volunteers packed 1,000 shoeboxes filled with gifts and the message of the Gospel for children around the world at the Christmas In July event on Friday evening.  Photo by Graham Gardner

In just over an hour, hundreds of people from Walnut Creek Church and the Des Moines community packed 1,000 shoeboxes with gifts for children in poverty. In addition, the fourth annual Christmas in July event at Walnut Creek Downtown raised more than $4,500 to pay for shipping the boxes overseas. When combined with the money raised prior to the event, a total of nearly $9,000 was raised – exceeding the fundraising goal by almost $2,000.

“It was incredible seeing the Lord come through and answer our prayers so specifically,” said event organizer Bo Laehn of Walnut Creek Downtown. “We were a little nervous about our ability to pack 1,000 boxes in two hours. But then God thought it would be funny if we could get it all done in one.”

Each year, Walnut Creek partners with Operation Christmas Child, a ministry of Samaritan’s Purse, for the Christmas in July packing party. New this year, the shoeboxes are being sent to special-access countries, which are closed to the Gospel. The goal is for the boxes to make a way for the Gospel to get to children who would have little to no access to the truth otherwise.

“It’s a tremendous privilege to be the only church in Iowa throwing a special-access packing party this year,” Laehn said. “It’s an even greater honor to know 1,000 kids will experience Jesus’ love for them and have an opportunity to hear the Gospel because of the Lord’s work through Christmas in July.”

The event closed with a concert featuring Christian hip hop artists Beautiful Eulogy. Proceeds from the concert contributed to the $9,000 that was raised. “The concert was a great way to end the event and celebrate what was accomplished,” Laehn said. “It was also a great way to bring new people through the doors to learn about Operation Christmas Child.”

The event organizers would like to thank everyone who participated in and contributed to Christmas in July. They’d especially like to thank Operation Christmas Child volunteer Heather Rowley for her support and the Windsor Heights Dairy Queen for donating the Dilly Bars that were served with the meal.

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By Tim Laehn 

Walnut Creek Downtown 

Join Walnut Creek for Christmas – Tonight

Attendees of last year's Christmas in July event packed more than 300 boxes and raised more than a $1,000 for Operation Christmas Child.

Members of Walnut Creek Church are teaming up with Operation Christmas Child to throw a Christmas party for children all over the world. The event, dubbed “Christmas in July,” will take place tonight from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Walnut Creek Downtown. The fourth annual event is free and open to the public.

Operation Christmas Child, a project of Samaritan’s Purse, partners with local churches worldwide to deliver gift-filled shoeboxes to hurting children in impoverished and war-torn countries. Walnut Creek Church’s Christmas in July event will provide attendees with an opportunity to pack shoeboxes for children around the world. A meal will also be served to help defray the cost of shipping the shoeboxes overseas. Each shoebox costs $7 to ship.

The event will close with a concert featuring Christian hip-hop artists Beautiful Eulogy, who will take the stage at 8:30 p.m. Proceeds from the concert tickets, which are on sale now, will also go toward the cost of shipping the shoeboxes.

“Our goal for this year’s Christmas in July event is to pack 1,000 shoeboxes and raise $7,000,” said event organizer Jed Johnson of Walnut Creek Downtown. “This is a significant increase from years past because our boxes will be going to limited-access countries, which have an even greater need.”

Christmas in July attendees are encouraged to bring items to include in the gift boxes, such as school supplies, small toys, and hygiene items (no liquids or gels). Attendees are also encouraged to consider a cash donation to help cover the cost of shipping the boxes they pack.

Samaritan’s Purse is an international Christian relief and evangelism organization headed by Franklin Graham. Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child has hand-delivered more than 100 million gift-filled shoeboxes to needy children in more than 130 countries. To learn more about Operation Christmas Child, visit www.samaritanspurse.org/occ/.

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By Tim Laehn 

Walnut Creek Downtown 

Pancakes with a Purpose

Come and get all-you-can-eat pancakes at Walnut Creek Downtown on Sunday, May 25, from noon to 1:30 p.m. The pancake brunch is one of the many activities happening at Walnut Creek Church this weekend as part of Mission to the City.

The proceeds from the pancake brunch will go to support Operation Christmas Child and Walnut Creek's annual Christmas in July party on July 18. This year's Christmas in July party will be bigger than ever because it will be a "special access" packing party.

Shoe box gifts packed at a special access party are sent to countries that are especially spiritually dark and resistant to Operation Christmas Child's efforts. Agreeing to host a special access party means committing to pack 1,000 boxes and raise $7,000.

"It's a huge honor to be asked by Operation Christmas Child to consider hosting a special access party," said Sarah Johnson of Walnut Creek Downtown and one of the event's organizers. "It's a big goal, but I'm confident in our ability to come together as a church to support this great cause."

Last year, Operation Christmas Child had requests for approximately 400,000 shoe box gifts from special access countries, and nearly 300,000 were collected. This year, the number of requests has grown to 500,000.

For $5 per plate, you can help Operation Christmas Child meet those 500,000 requests — and fill yourself with delicious pancakes.

Walnut Creek Church Shares Christmas Joy With the World

Volunteers from Walnut Creek Church load gift-filled shoeboxes to deliver them to the Des Moines area collection Center.

This year, the members of Walnut Creek Church packed 687 Operation Christmas Child (OCC) shoeboxes. A total of 24,128 gift-filled shoeboxes, including the ones from Walnut Creek, were recently loaded onto trucks and taken to the Midwest distribution center in Minneapolis.

OCC, a ministry of Samaritan’s Purse, works with local churches and ministry partners to deliver the gifts and share the life-changing Good News of Jesus Christ with children in impoverished and war-torn countries. Since 1993, more than 100 million boys and girls in more than 130 countries have experienced God’s love through the power of simple shoebox gifts.

“It’s so much more than a shoebox,” said Kelly Hill, who helped coordinate OCC efforts at Walnut Creek and also volunteers on the Des Moines area OCC team. “It’s a great way to get the gospel of Christ out. There are so many kids who need Christ, and a lot of them have never even heard of God. This is a way to introduce them to gospel and serve them at the same time.”

The 687 boxes were packed with the help of many volunteers and events. Starting back in July, the annual “Christmas in July” packing party at the Downtown congregation brought in more than 300 boxes. An annual vendor fair fundraiser at Walnut Creek coordinated by Kelly Hill and Emmie Hawk brought in another 70 boxes and more than $1,500 in funds. The rest of the boxes were packed by individuals from all of Walnut Creek’s congregations.

To learn more about OCC, go to www.samaritanspurse.org/what-we-do/operation-christmas-child/.