SAMARITAN'S PURSE STATEMENT ON OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD, UK

Recently, a media story from London reported that the Operation Christmas Child organization in the UK was removing Christian or Christmas-themed materials it collects for distribution to needy children around the world. Such a practice is inconsistent with the global mission, policies, and practices of Operation Christmas Child and Samaritan's Purse, the international Christian relief organization which has conducted the annual Christmas project for the past 13 years.

Franklin Graham, president and CEO of Samaritan's Purse, immediately reiterated to staff around the world that "Samaritan's Purse is unashamedly a Christian organization and Operation Christmas Child is a distinctively Christian kid's project. This project is not merely a Christmas gift distribution project—every shoe box gift is given in the name of Jesus Christ in order that children around the world might know the true meaning of Christmas."

Since its beginning in 1993, Operation Christmas Child has collected and distributed more than 46 million shoe box gifts to underprivileged children in some 130 countries. The project requires the help of approximately 150,000 volunteers working in several thousand collection and processing centers in 11 sending countries.

Samaritan's Purse is working closely with its offices around the world to ensure consistency of practices and implementation of this and all projects it conducts. While certain governments and customs present challenges to this project, Samaritan's Purse has always provided unconditional aid in concert with its Christian message and purpose. We work in cooperation with local churches and organizations to distribute the shoe box gifts—an estimated 8 million this Christmas—and offer gospel literature to recipient children. This practice will never cease.