Lakewood Baptist Church will be instrumental in providing Christmas joy for children across the world, as the church readies itself to serve as a regional collection center for Operation Christmas Child.
Operation Christmas Child is a Christian outreach sponsored by Samaritan’s Purse, an evangelical Christian humanitarian aid organization. Every year, Operation Christmas Child participants stuff shoe boxes with toys, books, toiletries and clothes for children around the world.
As a distribution center, Lakewood Baptist Church will collaborate with other churches across other counties. Lakewood associate missions minister Kevin Stradley said the church has a shoe box goal in mind.
“As a regional collection center, we will interact with churches from about 6 counties,” Stradley said. “The Lakewood congregation hopes to exceed our 17,000 boxes collected in 2021.”
Collection week will begin Nov. 14. and will end on Nov. 21. Lakewood Baptist Church will also hold an Operation Christmas Child box parade on Nov. 16, which will allow kids to participate.
Community members can pick up an empty shoe box from Lakewood Baptist Church, which is located at 2235 Thompson Bridge Road. Then, community members will be off to shop for toy treasures.
Visit for more information about Lakewood Baptist Church’s involvement with Operation Christmas Child.
