Campus begins Operation Christmas Child shoebox drive

Students trickled into the Student Ministries Center (SMC) for the first time this year, to attend chapel, after meeting in the G.L. Johnson Chapel for the first quarter of the school year due to renovations in the SMC, Oct. 17. This chapel was dedicated to Operation Christmas Child, a nonprofit organization that sends shoeboxes packed with gifts to children in impoverished countries.

The target of Operation Christmas Child is to deliver shoebox presents to children who often do not receive presents for Christmas or live in. This outreach is led by Samaritan’s Purse.

Leadership advisor Robert Foshee shared this year’s goals and the reasons FC contributes.

“Operation Christmas Child is a great organization not only because it’s giving gifts to kids, but it’s really about sharing the Gospel with them,” Foshee said. “Students may not be able to travel to Africa, Europe or Asia to share the gospel, but they can give a tool to someone that is going to do that. This year’s goal is to bring in over 400 boxes. Last year K-12 Fresno Christian students provided 360 children with a box full of Christmas gifts.”

Worship leader Daniel Garrison shared the reasons for the temporary change of venue.

“We started a remodeling project in the middle of summer to redo this entire building,” Garrison said. “Renovations are nearly complete. The last thing you will see in the next weeks to come will be a new tech booth in the back. It will be raised up a few feet with 1 entrance so tech people can handle their tech stuff in peace.”

Bass player Daniel Avila, ‘18, shared his input on the impact that having chapel in the G.L. Johnson chapel has had.

“The GL Johnson chapel is great for smaller settings, but when we wanted to do more upbeat songs and it was more of a challenge due to the size of the room, lighting, seating, etc.,” Avila said. “Overall it was good for acoustic sets. Being back in the SMC allows for us to try new things musically. We have better sound systems and more room to move. The students also have the choice to come up to the front if they want.”

Sydney Saville, ‘20, shared her opinion on being back in the SMC after having chapels in the G.L. Johnson chapel.

“I feel like it was necessary to move to the G.L. Johnson chapel,” Saville said. “However, now that we are back in the SMC it feels like we are home. I prefer the SMC to the to the G.L. Johnson chapel because of the feeling and better sound.”

For more articles read: Volleyball senior night or Pink out game benefits local organization. For more information on Operation Christmas Child, talk to a leadership student or one of the leadership advisors.

This writer can be reached via twitter @MatthewSue1 and via email: Matthew Sue.