Franklin Graham shares Christmas message, Operation Christmas Child goal
Franklin Graham attended Fox News’ annual Christmas tree lighting celebration in New York City on Friday night, delivering a message about faith, generosity and what he calls the “first gift” of Christmas — God’s giving of his Son, Jesus Christ.
The president and CEO of Samaritan’s Purse and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Foundation also highlighted this season’s goal for Operation Christmas Child, which will send more than 13 million gift-filled shoeboxes to children in more than 130 countries.
Graham appeared live in Fox Square with her hosts and hundreds of people gathered at the channel’s holiday kickoff and presented one of the gift boxes wrapped by her 3-year-old grandson.
Filled with a Minnie Mouse toy, school supplies and a handwritten note that she helped prepare with the help of her family, the box represented the kind of gift Samaritan’s Purse has distributed around the world for nearly 30 years.
“We will have about 13 million of these boxes this year,” Graham said. “There are about 30 gifts in each. What we want to teach children is the importance of giving. God gave his Son, Jesus Christ, so we want the children of the world to understand the importance of receiving a gift and the importance of learning to give for the children who wrap them.”
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The All-American Christmas tree was lit at Fox Plaza in front of the Fox News Channel studios in New York City on Friday. (Theo Wargo/Getty Images)
Graham thanked Fox News employees who packed more than 400 shoe boxes ahead of National Collectibles Week (November 17-24).
“It was great to have Fox’s help packing the boxes,” Graham said. “This is a great partnership.”
Presenters on stage encouraged viewers to participate by scanning the QR code displayed on the screen, which directed them to Samaritan’s Bag packing instructions.
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Franklin Graham, left, and Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Archbishop of New York, at the annual All-American Christmas tree lighting at Fox Plaza in New York City on Friday. (Theo Wargo/Getty Images)
This part came during the faith-themed portion of the ceremony, and Graham based the moment on the biblical basis of Christmas.
“Christmas is about giving,” he said. “God gave the first gift, His Son, Jesus Christ, who came to take away our sins. At Christmas, we honor Jesus Christ and remember what He did for us.”
Operation Christmas Child, run by Samaritan’s Purse, runs through Monday, National Collection Week. Nearly 5,000 drop-off locations are open nationwide for families and churches to drop off packed boxes containing toys, hygiene items and school supplies.
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Franklin Graham is the owner of one of more than 13 million gift-filled shoeboxes that will be sent to children in more than 130 countries. (Theo Wargo/Getty Images)
The project involves nearly 300,000 volunteers and reaches deep forests, city suburbs, mountainous villages and more than 1,000 remote Pacific islands, according to Samaritan’s Purse. Shoeboxes collected in the United States are combined with gifts from around the world to reach children in difficult or isolated areas.
“At Samaritan’s Purse, we have the opportunity to share the true meaning of Christmas with millions of children around the world through Operation Christmas Child,” Graham said in an exclusive statement to Fox News Digital. he said. “I am so grateful for everyone who made this project possible and for every shoebox that opened the door for us to tell the Good News of Jesus Christ to another child.”
Families can also create a shoebox online by digitally selecting items and adding a photo or personal note.
Operation Christmas Child began in 1993 and has since delivered more than 232 million boxes to children in more than 170 countries and territories. Many distributions are coordinated through local churches, which match gifts with evangelistic programs and community outreach.
B.C. At Republic, children fill shoeboxes with gifts for boys and girls in need. (Courtesy of Samaritan’s Purse)
“This is an opportunity for kids to give to someone else and not ask for anything in return,” Graham said. “We live in a selfish world, but this teaches the next generation the importance of giving.”
As the Christmas tree lights reflected off the crowds gathered in midtown Manhattan, Graham’s message connected the ceremony to the reason millions of families participate in the annual shoebox drive.
“God so loved this world that he gave his only Son,” he said. “That’s what Christmas is all about.”
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Anyone can pack a shoebox in person or create one online at: SamaritansPurse.org/OCC-FoxNews. A. QR code Items provided by Samaritan’s Purse can also be placed or displayed on the screen.
