Honesty

joyjoyjoyjoy415 · Newbie

Honesty

Date: Oct 30, 2006

I am Canadian. My school ran OCC the last two years and it was only through my own investigation that I discovered OCC was seeked to convert others to Christianity.

In fact I was told over and over again that was NOT what the organization did.

Believe what you want to believe, but everyone should be informed about what this organization really does. Everyone should have their own desicion.

Date: Nov 5, 2006

Have you ever travelled to Africa with Samaritan's Purse?.. I have. have you seen the families to whom some of the shoeboxes are given out... I have. I have also heard first hand reports of how the shoebox distributions work in eastern European countries, from people I know and trust.... These conspiracy theories about "converting children through bribery and evangelism" are (in my experience) untrue... I am telling you, but there is no way for me to prove it..It is my opinion that these rumours are no more than the pathetic attempts of some very sad people to take away from the achievements of this charity.

There are hundreds of thousands of shoeboxes that go out every year from all over the world... I have seen areas and houses where there have been shoebox distributions and NEVER have i seen any form of "persuasive" Christian literature. How could this be??... I have been in the Samaritans purse bases in a few countries... once again I have never seen any of this sort of literature. I can only ask where does this supposed "literature" come from, where are these hundreds of thousands of books/leaflets hidden?? especially when volunteers.. normal people can seal the boxes in the warehouses in several OCC countries, these volunteers can watch the boxes being packed into trucks... all sealed. I would question whether or not it is possible... logistically!

You can believe me.. or not.. but if you are sceptical, why not go and have a look at the sorting warehouses, and see the boxes being sealed and sent off for yourselves?

Date: Nov 10, 2006

I have worked with a charity in Bosnia who gave out Christmas boxes. They are a Christain organisation, but when giving out the shoeboxes they do not do some magical show with preaching and stuff - they just give the children boxes. They have been doing it for many years!

I think this issue neds 2 b kept in perspective!! Christmas is a Christian celebration so its not that surprising that Samaritans Purse is a Christian Organisation - its clear enough in the name.

Secondly, if you look at the process on the other side, i think the whole operation becomes clearer. The organisation i worked for simply request a certain number of boxes, and these are delivered to the local school, where a number of local organisations, religious and otherwise, come and pick up their boxes. They then distribute them to the children of whatever race,creed, religion etc whom they work with. This particular charity works with children from a number of different religious backgrounds. It is fair to say that the individual organisations could then put religious literature in them or whatever, but from the point of dropping off the boxes to the charity samritians purse dont tend to have much involvement.
In this charity there is no literature or whatever and they distribute them to a great number of children of all backgrounds. However, obviously from the childs point of view, although aware that these boxes have come from the UK and other countries across the world, they are essentially from the people who give it to them - the charity with whom they have the contact. Now you could argue that this is wrong and that credit should be given to someone else, and that its a fair argument, (though perhaps a little self-centred!!) however in my experience that is just the way these people see it. And to be honest i dont see whats so wrong with that. Is it that surprising that people who give up their entire year (and often their entire life) to work with these people are the ones who really get the credit (tho actually most of them would never acknowledge it or accept it, being to busy to realise!) And thus if that is the case then its also quite likely that they would see the gifts in a religious context, being from a organisation who does work throughout the year with the church, including those of an evangelistic and religious nature.

Personally i think that you shouldnt criticise something unless you are willing to do it better! And it would be fantastic if all those people who critise the work of samaritans purse and operation christmas child went out and did the work that they and the organisations that they support do!! Then this world would most definitly be a better place!

Date: Nov 10, 2006

Message from above poster :

by the way i'm British, and have always been quite aware that Samaritans Purse is a Christian organisation, and to my knowledge everyone that i know of who has put together boxes is also aware of this!

Sarah

Date: Nov 12, 2006

The guy who wrote this article must be living under a rock somewhere. Billy Graham started Samaritan’s Purse who runs OCC. SP is an evangelical Christian organization. Somebody please explain to this clown what EVANGELIZE means! Does he think Billy Graham is a secular philanthropist? There's no hiding the fact that SP and OCC are both Christian organizations and as Christians we are called to spread God's message. Plus, it's called Operation CHRISTMAS child. Not operation "Happy Holiday's" child or operation "Gee it's cold outside" child. I personally think it would be a shame that the if people receiving the box at the end of the line were missing the message of Christ, God, giving and love. My family is sending 16 boxes this year, we are sending them with the Spirit of love and giving in our hearts. We pray that God finds the children that need these boxes and fills their hearts with His love. I hope that everybody that participates gives with the love of Jesus in their heart. If you have decided to not participate now knowing that OCC has the word Christmas in it which does mean it is a Christ based organization you may want to forward your boxes to Tom Cruise, Bono, Madonna or even Bin Laden and let them distribute them.

Date: Nov 20, 2006

It's Christmas time and time to have a go, yet again to take part in the annual sport of let's have a go at operation Christmas child.

Well, good buddies, please carry on for every time you have a go at demeaning the charity all that happens is that more boxes are donated and more children receive more of what kids in the Uk USA turn their noses up at, box full of goodies given with love and best wishes.

A few years ago a so called man of God criticized and box numbers rose from 37 thousand to 57 thousand boxes going out from out local Stockport depot.

If we were to take the attitude of if your a religious organisation and along side your good works you put forward you moral beliefs, there would be a ban on many charitable organisations.

The Salvation Army, the Catholic Church and Christian Aid, to name just a few, would have had the plug pulled many years ago.

I try and give a few hours each year as a box checker and no war toys or any religious symbols of books of any type is packed into the books. The boxes are given without any hidden agenda. The leaflet mentions booklets are available but not forced a pone a recipient.

I have not been on the delivery end of the boxes but a good friend, who I have known for many years outside of the shoe box appeal, has travelled to Belarus and he has told me of the delight in the children’s faces with no arm up the back.

Me, I've not contact with any Church or religion but do it for the direct humanity factor as does my daughter and this year a friend from work has joined who just happens to be a Muslim lady. She is well aware of the Christian origins and is happy to help.

The critics could get involved or set up something better now there's a challenge.

Date: Sep 30, 2007

There is always someone who has to criticise someone elses good work.

Good on you OCC. Keep up the great job. Im still going to do shoeboxes for kids with nothing much to smile about. And now my children are doing them!!!!!!!!!!!

Jesus said that when we do these good things to others, we do it for him!! In Mark 9:42 Jesus says "If anyone causes one of these little ones -those who believe in me -to stumble, it would be better for them if a millstone were hung around their neck and they were thrown into the sea" Those who want to silence christians from spreadiing the gospel to "the little ones" are doing just that. Causing them to stumble. They are not even given a chance to hear about Jesus because of the anti christians in society that really hate God and the Son Jesus.

Date: Oct 29, 2007

We could probably find something "wrong" with just about any charitable organization out there...Christian or non-christian. No one believes one hundred percent the same as another person. In fact, I just looked up only one of the suggested alternatives the web author links to. The one I looked at looks like a good alternative for non-christians. It is very clear that it aims to support children in any way shape or form...but then I looked at the fineprint.

In the spirit of this website author, I investigated one of his suggested alternatives more deeply. Originally, I thought it was a great organization, until I clicked onto the very tiny...way down in the corner...link to its parent company. Upon digging further (and believe me, I had to dig VERY deep), I found some fundamental goals of the organization that clashed with my core belief system. I wouldn't support this web author's suggested alternative organization if you paid me to, but I REALLY had to peel MANY layers before I found what the organization was truly about. And, no, I'm not going to start up a website attacking his suggested alternative organization. Nor, am I going to harass the organization to make its goals more clear even though I think it should. I'm not that narrow-minded.

My point is that any intelligent person should thoroughly investigate ANY organization you choose to support either by money or time. Be comfortable with what they stand for before volunteering, etc. Alarm sounding against an organization because it doesn't have your belief system is just, well, just attacking and time-wasting.

As far as the critique of OCC...it seems to be the concerns brought up by this web author have been addressed by OCC. So, there truly is no purpose to this website anymore other than to be mean-spirited toward a Christian organization. Pamphlets have been changed to be more clear. I, personally, think they shouldn't have had to do it as the NAME of the project using the word "Christmas" should explain enough that it is a Christian organization. Christians do aim to share the story of Christ to others and if giving a gift gives an opportunity to start a conversation about the true, most worthy gift of Christ, then so be it. That's what Christians are about.

ANY organization seeks for opportunities to promote their core beliefs! Otherwise, why have the organization? Please stop the attacks. It is time for this website to go away.