Maranata Romanian Church, located in Norwich, has joined forces with Operation Christmas Child to participate in the charity’s gift distribution appeal in Romania and other countries. The church meets at Hillcrest Chapel in Thorpe St Andrew and is a small community of Romanians who gather every Sunday at 10:30 for services conducted in the Romanian language. Pastor Florin Buga recently hosted Mark and Debra Watkins, community relations workers for Operation Christmas Child, at one of the church’s services to discuss the charity’s work. Operation Christmas Child sent 237,735 filled shoeboxes from the UK to children in various countries in 2023, providing school supplies, hygiene items, and toys. The project has delivered over 200 million gift-filled shoeboxes to children in more than 160 countries since 1990.
Mark and Debra Watkins, who have been meeting with individuals and organizations involved in Operation Christmas Child in Norfolk to express their gratitude, were warmly welcomed by the church community. While the service was conducted in Romanian, efforts were made to include English interpretation, and a song in English was sung during the service. The presentation by Mark and Debra on Operation Christmas Child was well-received, with Pastor Florin providing interpretation. The church was deeply moved by a video showing the testimony of a Romanian woman named Rebecca, who had received a shoebox as a child and later became involved in distributing shoeboxes herself. Pastor Florin emphasized the importance of Christians sharing God’s love with others throughout the year, not just at Christmas, and commended Samaritan’s Purse for their efforts.
The charity work of Operation Christmas Child extends beyond simply distributing shoeboxes, as they also provide support, training, and Christian resources to churches involved in the distribution process. Mark and Debra Watkins expressed their gratitude for the warm reception they received at Maranata Romanian Church, which left them feeling more blessed than they had anticipated. Pastor Florin Buga echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the importance of Christians being actively involved in sharing God’s love with others. The church’s involvement with Operation Christmas Child serves as a reminder of the impact of simple acts of kindness and generosity in spreading joy and hope to those in need.
Individuals or groups interested in learning more about Operation Christmas Child and how to get involved can contact Mark and Debra Watkins at [email protected]. The church community at Maranata Romanian Church, along with Pastor Florin Buga, is committed to continuing their partnership with the charity and spreading love and compassion to those in need. Their involvement serves as an example of the power of faith-based organizations to make a positive difference in the lives of others, both during the holiday season and throughout the year.
