OCC: Operation Christmas Child is a ministry of Samaritan’s Purse. The goal is to send small Christmas gifts and the gospel to children in third world countries. Winn’s Baptist Church participates by working all year to gather items for the boxes. In November, we host our annual shoebox party where we assemble the boxes and prepare them to be shipped to a collection center.
Operation Christmas Child
How Can You Help?
We collect items for OCC ALL YEAR! Here is the list of monthy items. Please bring your donations to the bin located in the church foyer.
Monthly Items Needed
January
Bar Soap
February
Sunglasses
March
Washcloths
April
Toothbrushes
May
Plastic Cups or Bowls
(no plates please)
June
Small Cars/Toys/Balls
July
Small Dolls/Toys/Balls
August
Crayons/Pencils/Notepads
September
Small Stuffed Animal
October
Fill-A-Can
November
Shoebox Packing Party!
YOUR support of OCC is making a HUGE difference in a child “somewhere”; THANK YOU!!
Check out some pics from our 2022 Shoebox Packing Party where we packed 2040 Shoeboxes!
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India Missions
India (in country and at home)
When Rev. Dr. Mindi Smith Ephraim first visited Winn’s Baptist Church nearly 20 years ago, no one could have guessed what God had in mind for this unique partnership to reach lost souls more than 8,000 miles away. Pastor Mindi came seeking support for his fledgling CHRIST Like (CLC) Ministries and Welfare Association and found friends who would help support the vision he and his wife Pretty had for spreading the Gospel in their homeland.
The people of Winn’s help provide financial support for approximately 30 pastors working under Pastor Mindi’s guiding hand to reach the poor, sick, blind and orphaned in their community. Over the past 20 years, the ministry has constructed churches; provided food, clothing and other necessities to those afflicted with leprosy and HIV; and operated an orphanage in the village of Nallabilli. Their latest project is the construction of a new church for the growing congregation.
The ministry is truly a family effort with son Chris playing a key role on the team. He not only helps us get funding to the ministry in his home country but also works through the Texas-based Anchor Austin ministry to plant churches that serve the state’s growing population of Indian immigrants. Chris and his wife Sarah came to the U.S. to complete their graduate studies in theology and God opened their hearts to the need to create a safe environment for all people to explore faith and find Jesus.
Nicaragua Missions
Nicaragua
Winn's has also established a long-term partnership with the Great Harvest of Nicaragua, which oversees seven active churches in different stages of growth: three in Tipitapa and four in Managua. Pastor Bayron Matlack is the president of the association and oversees the operations of this growing church family.
In 2022, we provided funding for a crusade in the Tipitapa area to share the Gospel with a wider audience and support their mission of saving the lost, equipping the saved and sending the equipped. Other activities for 2023 and beyond include continued support for the Prodigal Son Rehab Center and youth leadership development programs to provide children with the skills they need to succeed in school and life.
With God’s help, Winn’s will continue partnering with these pastors to implement outreach, discipleship and community engagement activities within the local churches to save and transform Nicaragua one family at a time.
World Reach Partnerships
Rick and Janet Via stepped out in faith more than 25 years ago to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with all people by training believers to share the good news, disciple others and raise up leaders from within churches to repeat the process. In that time, God has opened doors for this family of missionaries to preach in nearly 50 countries, plant new churches and see thousands of souls saved in third world countries.
Winn’s began partnering with this Virginia-based ministry in 2022 to support their ongoing efforts to connect churches with churches and mobilize short-term teams and long-term workers to come alongside local indigenous churches and prepare them to reach their communities for Christ. Hundreds of volunteers have joined World Reach Partnerships on mission trips that are making a lasting impact on our world.