HOLLIDAYSBURG, BLAIR COUNTY -- The Christmas spirit is already in full gear at one area church with gifts that will be sent across the world.
It all started 19 year ago with a few shoeboxes sent to kids.
Operation Christmas Child is part of Billy Graham's international ministry called Samaritan's Purse.
Boxes are packed at churches worldwide including right here at Grace Bible in Hollidaysburg, Blair County.
As Shannon Krater with Operation Christmas Child explains, "Everything you see here, the people of the church have been buying and they've been packing and they've been contributing, they've been donating all year."
And it's not just what's in the box. It's the message that goes along with it.
Krater adds, "When you're there, and you see that they have nothing it just makes you want to give them more but more than just giving them a shoe box we're telling them about Jesus Christ."
And Legla Allison, Operation Christmas Child spokesperson, was just 11 living in war-torn Bosnia when a box was put in her hands.
"It was the day that changed my life forever. To this day, I haven't really found the words to describe what that simple box meant for me. I had nothing absolutely nothing of my own. I never possessed a toy, never had school supplies. The moment that box hit my hands I realized it was actually a gift that was given to me."
Legla now spreads the message of Operation Christmas Child.
"The joy and the love I felt to this day 19 years later, I will never ever forget."
And her message this day?
"I can tell you that every gift you put in there is going to matter and I know it because it happened to me."
It all started 19 year ago with a few shoeboxes sent to kids.
Operation Christmas Child is part of Billy Graham's international ministry called Samaritan's Purse.
Boxes are packed at churches worldwide including right here at Grace Bible in Hollidaysburg, Blair County.
As Shannon Krater with Operation Christmas Child explains, "Everything you see here, the people of the church have been buying and they've been packing and they've been contributing, they've been donating all year."
And it's not just what's in the box. It's the message that goes along with it.
Krater adds, "When you're there, and you see that they have nothing it just makes you want to give them more but more than just giving them a shoe box we're telling them about Jesus Christ."
And Legla Allison, Operation Christmas Child spokesperson, was just 11 living in war-torn Bosnia when a box was put in her hands.
"It was the day that changed my life forever. To this day, I haven't really found the words to describe what that simple box meant for me. I had nothing absolutely nothing of my own. I never possessed a toy, never had school supplies. The moment that box hit my hands I realized it was actually a gift that was given to me."
Legla now spreads the message of Operation Christmas Child.
"The joy and the love I felt to this day 19 years later, I will never ever forget."
And her message this day?
"I can tell you that every gift you put in there is going to matter and I know it because it happened to me."
