Kickoff event July 1 for 2010 Operation Christmas Child

Ed Hiestand, Helen Hiestand, Becky Gotherman and Todd Edwards, Operation

Christmas Child, Great Lakes Regional Manager, discuss local plans for

Operation Christmas Child.

Kickoff event July 1

for 2010 Operation

Christmas Child

The Highland County Press

   A countdown event for the 2010 Operation Christmas Child efforts in Highland and surrounding counties will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, July 1 at

the Hillsboro First United Methodist Church at 133 E. Walnut St.

   This year, the goal locally is to collect 5,000 shoe box gifts. Last year, a total of 4,265 shoeboxes from Highland and area counties were

collected and distributed. Nationally, more than 5.1 million boxes were distributed. For many years, Becky Gotherman has organized the program from

her Hillsboro home. This year, the collection center has been changed to the First United Methodist Church, which is partnering with Mrs. Gotherman.

   Ed Hiestand of Hillsboro is serving as the collection center coordinator for Highland, Adams, Brown, Clinton and Fayette counties.

   “The countdown event is an opportunity to meet others involved in this ministry and learn more about Operation Christmas Child,” Mr. Hiestand said.

“Informational material will be available. My wife, Helen, the church relations coordinator, leads a speakers team to make presentations to churches and organizations interested in participating in the Shoe Box Ministry. We invite everyone to attend the countdown event on July 1 and stay for the Natalie Grant concert.”

   Grant is scheduled to perform at a 9 p.m. uptown concert, sponsored by the churches of Highland and surrounding counties. In addition, Jodena Thomas is scheduled to perform on the Fifth Third Bank stage at 7:30 p.m. and Mia Lutton and Vicki Mikkelsen are scheduled to perform at 8 p.m. July 1.

   Operation Christmas Child is the shoe box gift project of Samaritan’s Purse (www.samaritanspurse.org). According to its website, Operation

Christmas Child “enjoyed its most fruitful year ever in 2009...collecting 8.2 million shoe box gifts in 13 countries. That’s the most boxes ever –

nearly 200,000 more than the previous year.”

   All shoe boxes are collected the third week in November – this year Collection Week is Nov 15-22. Shoe boxes are delivered to collection

centers, packed in large cartons and loaded on semi-trailers. The trailers then are transported to one of six processing centers, where shoe boxes are

prepared for overseas shipping. Shoe boxes collected locally will most likely go to North Carolina or Minnesota for processing.

   The focus of Operation Christmas Child is ministry to children living in desperate conditions around the world; children living in areas stricken by war, poverty, and natural disaster. Operation Christmas Child is the largest evangelistic ministry for children in the world.

   Becky Gotherman has provided the depth and breadth of Operation Christmas Child in the area. She has worked diligently for more than a

decade, bringing the message of opportunity to make a difference in the life of a child and a family, multiplied by each shoe box gift.

   “The local organization in this area is due to her faith and diligence, and we are working alongside Becky to grow the ministry,” Mr. Hiestand said.

The Highland County Press

   A countdown event for the 2010 Operation Christmas Child efforts in Highland and surrounding counties will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, July 1 at the Hillsboro First United Methodist Church at 133 E. Walnut St.

   This year, the goal locally is to collect 5,000 shoe box gifts. Last year, a total of 4,265 shoeboxes from Highland and area counties were collected and distributed. Nationally, more than 5.1 million boxes were distributed. For many years, Becky Gotherman has organized the program from her Hillsboro home. This year, the collection center has been changed to the First United Methodist Church, which is partnering with Mrs. Gotherman.

   Ed Hiestand of Hillsboro is serving as the collection center coordinator for Highland, Adams, Brown, Clinton and Fayette counties.

   “The countdown event is an opportunity to meet others involved in this ministry and learn more about Operation Christmas Child,” Mr. Hiestand said.

“Informational material will be available. My wife, Helen, the church relations coordinator, leads a speakers team to make presentations to churches and organizations interested in participating in the Shoe Box Ministry. We invite everyone to attend the countdown event on July 1 and stay for the Natalie Grant concert.”

   Grant is scheduled to perform at a 9 p.m. uptown concert, sponsored by the churches of Highland and surrounding counties. In addition, Jodena Thomas is scheduled to perform on the Fifth Third Bank stage at 7:30 p.m. and Mia Lutton and Vicki Mikkelsen are scheduled to perform at 8 p.m. July 1.

   Operation Christmas Child is the shoe box gift project of Samaritan’s Purse (www.samaritanspurse.org). According to its website, Operation Christmas Child “enjoyed its most fruitful year ever in 2009...collecting 8.2 million shoe box gifts in 13 countries. That’s the most boxes ever – nearly 200,000 more than the previous year.”

   All shoe boxes are collected the third week in November – this year Collection Week is Nov 15-22. Shoe boxes are delivered to collection centers, packed in large cartons and loaded on semi-trailers. The trailers then are transported to one of six processing centers, where shoe boxes are prepared for overseas shipping. Shoe boxes collected locally will most likely go to North Carolina or Minnesota for processing.

   The focus of Operation Christmas Child is ministry to children living in desperate conditions around the world; children living in areas stricken by war, poverty, and natural disaster. Operation Christmas Child is the largest evangelistic ministry for children in the world.

   Becky Gotherman has provided the depth and breadth of Operation Christmas Child in the area. She has worked diligently for more than a decade, bringing the message of opportunity to make a difference in the life of a child and a family, multiplied by each shoe box gift.

   “The local organization in this area is due to her faith and diligence, and we are working alongside Becky to grow the ministry,” Mr. Hiestand said.