Grateful smiles of needy children living in desperate places around the world will welcome the colorful shoe boxes that were brought to the Operation Christmas Child Relay Center at the First Baptist Church of Pattonsburg.
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This relay center collects shoe boxes from within a 45 minute radius of the church.
Generous giving through the area amounted to 947 colorful shoe boxes brought in during the week on Nov. 16-23.
The boxes were transported in cartons to the collection center at the Word of Life Church in St. Joseph. From St. Joseph they were taken to Boone, N.C., where each box was checked for any item that was breakable or not appropriate.
Each child receiving a box will be given a Gospel booklet titled "The Greatest Gift of All." This booklet is written in 72 languages and the appropriate one is passed out alongside the shoe box gift. This book not only introduces Jesus to the child, but also to the child’s family as the literature is passed around for many to read.
Appreciation was expressed by the organizers to those who filled the shoe boxes, those who gave of their time to help receive the boxes, and those who had a part in the 227 relay centers and 26 collection centers in the lower Midwest region. Prayers are asked for each child who receives a shoe box and for those who deliver them.