Oak Grove Exceeds Expectations for Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Ministry

Oak Grove demonstrated that a small country church can reach amazing potential when allowing God’s challenges to permeate its congregation and service area.  More than 20 years ago, Oak Grove began filling Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes and eventually they reached 80 boxes, until recently.

In 2020 the LORD issued a 300 box challenge to Pastor Rev. Bill Watkins and his congregation. They trusted the LORD, followed His leading, and He gave the provisions for 400 boxes!  God placed an anonymous donor in Rev. Watkin's path who paid the shipping costs.

Then in 2021, the LORD led the church to another increase to 543 boxes. Again, an anonymous donation was mailed to a church member for the shipping costs.

Church members started this year's collection for shoeboxes as 2022 began. During the year, enough items were collected to fill 600 boxes. However,Pastor Watkins says the LORD had other plans! By word of mouth and with the help of friends and family, 947 boxes were assembled. Oak Grove received gifts, some anonymous, to pay the shipping costs again!

Oak Grove Baptist averages 40 in their Sunday Worship, however, Rev. Watkins and his congregation are praising God’s goodness and provision that makes them a testament to the old hymn, “Little is Much when God is in it.”

By sharing this testimony of God’s goodness and provision, Oak Grove Baptist Church prays to be an encouragement to churches large or small to trust the LORD’s leading and claim Proverbs 19:17, Luke 6:38, and Ephesians 3:20-21 while watching the LORD work in people’s lives.