Report on Operation Christmas Child

This document was produced by Mike Lake. (N1)

Background

The issue of Operation Christmas Child was raised at the Derbyshire SACRE (N2) meeting held in Matlock on October 15th, 2007. A governor in a Derbyshire school had expressed concerns about Samaritan's Purse, (N3) the organisation behind Operation Christmas Child, and the matter had been referred to the SACRE. The school concerned had already decided to drop support for Operation Christmas Child and to work with Rotary for Christmas charity work.

Recommendations

SACREs have a duty to oversee all aspects of religious activity in schools, beyond worship and Religious Education.

Some parents may be happy supporting the missionary work of an American evangelical Christian organisation, others may not.

With this in mind, Derbyshire SACRE might wish to consider advising the local authority:

1. that Operation Christmas Child causes concern for some parents and teachers in the county,
2. that schools need to be aware of the background to Samaritan's Purse, the organisation behind Operation Christmas Child,
3. that schools might be wise to make information available to parents before taking part in Operation Christmas Child,
4. that parents should give written permission before their children take part in Operation Christmas Child,
5. that there are many alternative groups organising international gift-giving at Christmas.

Form of words

The local authority does not wish to be placed in a position where it condemns one specific type of gift-giving so perhaps the following form of words would be suitable:

What is Operation Christmas Child?

Operation Christmas Child involves the filling of a shoe box with presents for a child elsewhere in the world.

At Christmas it is natural for Christians and non-Christians to think about gift-giving and schools like to encourage the natural kindness of children who want to help those less fortunate than themselves.

Operation Christmas Child collects the shoe boxes and distributes them to various countries in the world.

This type of charitable gift-giving is not unique to Operation Christmas child and schools have a choice of organisations they can work with. Operation Christmas Child has been very successful in marketing itself to Christian organisations and head teachers in the UK.

What is behind Operation Christmas Child?

Operation Christmas Child is part of the Samaritan's Purse organisation (N3) based in Boone, North Carolina, USA.

Samaritan's Purse was founded by Dr. Bob Pierce in southern California in 1970. In 1980 Franklin Graham, son of the Christian evangelist Billy Graham, became the President and Chairman of the Board of Samaritan's Purse and is also President and CEO of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA).

Billy Graham can be heard on the Nixon White House tapes making anti-semitic remarks and he advocated the use of nuclear weapons in Vietnam. He was responsible for leading George W Bush to Christianity. Franklin Graham maintains very strong links with the Republican Party - he gave the opening prayer at the inauguration of George W Bush as President of the USA.

The Graham family belongs to the Southern Baptist Church (SBC) (N15) which split from the Northern Baptists in 1835 over the issue of slavery. THe SBC defended the institution of slavery and the right of slave owners to be missionaries - it also prevented black people from attending its meetings. Throughout the Civil Rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s, the SBC was best known for opposing the campaigns of Dr. Martin Luther King. A former president of the SBC, Jerry Vines, described the Prophet Mohammed as a "demon-possessed paedophile."

Franklin Graham is at the extreme end of American fundamentalist Christian evangelism and his views are clear in what he says:

• "The god of Islam is not the same God of the Christian or the Judeo-Christian faith. It is a different god, and I believe a very evil and a very wicked religion." (N4)
• "But let's use the weapons we have, the weapons of mass destruction if need be and destroy the enemy....we'll make a great mistake if we hold back our technology and hold back our weapons and put young men and women in there and sacrifice them because we're scared to use some of our major weapons. And I think we're going to have to use every -- and I hate to say it, hellish weapon in our inventory, if need be, to defeat these people." (N5)
• "This is one wicked city, OK? It's known for Mardi Gras, for Satan worship. It's known for sex perversion. It's known for every type of drugs and alcohol and the orgies and all of these things that go on down there in New Orleans... There's been a black spiritual cloud over New Orleans for years. They believe God is going to use that storm to bring revival." (N6)

Within days of George W Bush declaring that the Iraq war had been won, Franklin Graham, along with the leaders of other American evangelical churches, had laid plans to move into Iraq:

• "I believe as we work, God will always give us opportunities to tell others about his Son. We are there to reach out to love them and to save them, and as a Christian, I do this in the name of Jesus Christ." (N7)

Franklin Graham made the nature of Operation Christmas Child totally clear in a note of thanks he sent to the UK Samaritan's Purse: I want to thank the people of the United Kingdom and Ireland for another year of outstanding support for Operation Christmas Child, the special project of Samaritan’s Purse that shares God’s love with hurting children around the world. This past year, you helped us collect more than 1.1 million gift-filled shoe boxes, contributing to the worldwide total of 6.1 million boxes. Shoe box gifts from the United Kingdom and Ireland were sent to needy boys and girls in Romania, Serbia, Belarus, Bosnia, Ukraine and other impoverished countries. Many of the children were orphaned or abandoned; some were sick with AIDS or other life-threatening diseases. Without Operation Christmas Child, they would have had no Christmas at all. Wherever we can, we offer the boys and girls storybooks in their own language explaining the true meaning of Christmas - God’s gift of His Son, Jesus Christ. Over the years, thousands of children and their families have opened their hearts to receive Christ as Lord and Saviour. We praise God for the children and adults whose lives have been changed through Operation Christmas Child. ‘We will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, his power, and the wonders he has done’ (Psalm 64:9, NIV). Operation Christmas Child would not be possible without the help of many caring people who packed shoe boxes, volunteered, prayed and gave financially. Thank you again, and may God bless you. Sincerely, Franklin Graham (N8)

Members of Samaritan's Purse rode with the Israeli Army into Lebanon during Israel's 1982 invasion to reach Palestinian refugees, preached pretentiously to Kurds fleeing Saddam's forces in 1991 and sheltered and proselytized young Bosnian Muslim girls who had been raped by Orthodox Christian Serbs. In the Spring of 1991 shortly before the Kurds were betrayed by America and attacked by Saddam's military, Franklin Graham said: "What a time to preach the gospel to these people! America is number one with them right now. They're eager to listen to anything we have to say!"(N11)

Concerns

Many religious groups in the USA have grave concerns about the tactics of Samaritan's Purse. (N9) (N10)

Recent reports show that Canadian schools are also becoming concerned. (N16)

The ideas of "mission" and "conversion" are not new - Christian organisation have a long history of trying to convert those of other religions to Christianity. Christian missionaries have always followed the armies of allegedly Christian countries - from the conquests of South America, Africa and India to the war in Iraq.

The number of complaints about Operation Christmas Child led the Charity Commissioners to ask questions of the organisation in the UK. Unfortunately the Commissioner's brief does not extend outside the UK (beyond ensuring that charitable giving does not constitute legally defined "aid") and they accepted the assurance of Samaritan's Purse in the UK that the literature provided to those giving the shoe boxes had been changed to enable it to remain within the requirements of UK charity law. The Charity Commissioners did not carry out a full investigation of the organisation nor did they find out what is said, and what is given out, with the boxes at the point of delivery,

The primary concerns are:

• How does this fit into our modern ideas of education where we try to teach the ideas of social cohesion, understanding of other people's views and respect for those of other religions?
• What is the reaction of Muslims in Iraq when bible-carrying Christians move in after the American tanks? On the advice of evangelical Christian leaders, George Bush himself used the word "crusade" about the campaign in Iraq and he did so in full knowledge of its historical significance.
• What would be the reaction of Muslim, Hindu or other faith families when receiving shoe boxes full of presents, along with words of Christian evangelism in the form of leaflets and the spoken word? Surely they would be mixed - joy at the presents but concern about the words.
• What material, if any, is inserted into the shoe boxes between the time they leave the giver and the time they arrive at the receiver?
• What material is given out, and what is said, when the shoe boxes are handed over?
• Do parents and pupils have full background information about Samaritan's Purse, and its leader, before they make their donation?
• Are parents happy that the gifts provided by their children are being used to further the missionary campaigns of right-wing evangelical Christianity?

Gift giving is laudable - as long as it is without strings.

Comments by third parties

Article by the Vicar of Putney, Rev Dr.Giles Fraser

What many parents and teachers don't know is that behind Operation Christmas Child is the evangelical charity Samaritan's Purse. Their aim is "the advancement of the Christian faith through educational projects and the relief of poverty." And a particularly toxic version of Christianity it is. This is the same outfit that targeted eastern Europe after the fall of the Berlin Wall and was widely condemned for following US troops into Iraq to claim Muslims for Christ. It's run by the Rev Franklin Graham - chosen by George Bush to deliver the prayers at his presidential inauguration - who has called Islam "a very wicked and evil religion..

Christian missionaries in 19th-century India used to describe those who came to the mission stations simply for food as "rice Christians". This became a derogatory term for those driven to accept Christianity out of hunger rather than genuine conviction. The accusation is that groups such as Samaritan's Purse are creating a new generation of rice Christians in the Middle East..

Rev Vernon Marshall, Unitarian minister, Old Chapel, Dukinfield and New Chapel, Denton

Millions of shoe boxes full of gifts are collected, but are then inserted with poisonous literature and leaflets thrusting an intolerant and racist form of Christianity on these poor Muslim people. This is not a normal form of Christmas charitable giving and anyone who usually helps this appeal should think carefully about the implications.

The Guardian: head teachers shocked By Operation Christmas Child

Tony Mok, acting head of East Whitby community primary school in North Yorkshire , says pupils and others in the community send about 200 boxes each Christmas. Told of Graham's comments on Islam, he says: "If that's true, it would not fit in with the values of citizenship for our pupils and we couldn't support it."

Shan Davies, head of Builth Wells high school in Powys, says her school produces about 200 boxes each Christmas, but that the charity has not informed her that the gifts delivered to needy children are accompanied by Christian literature. "I would have difficulty promoting the appeal if that were true," she says.

Samaritan's Purse International's website features links to a Samaritan's Purse newsletter from Graham, in which he states that God has blessed Operation Christmas Child "because it is about more than Christmas presents." He says: "It is about introducing children and their families to God's greatest gift - His Son, Jesus Christ. As long as evangelism is the focus, God will continue to bless it."

The newsletter says the boxes are distributed along with evangelical literature and that the boxes "have led to salvation for tens of thousands of children and their families." It cites examples such as in Zambia , where "one shoe box prepared the way for nearly two dozen people to come to faith in Jesus Christ."

Follow-up materials "give children further opportunities to accept Christ and grow in their faith." Hundreds of thousands of children in developing countries are said to have participated in a 10-lesson Bible-study course run by the charity.

Co-op cuts Christmas box link with US charity

In a letter informing the charity of its decision to withdraw completely, the Co-op said "You are aware that we have received a large number of complaints regarding the comments of your trustee, Franklin Graham. Indeed, had we been aware of his views in advance, we would not have participated in Operation Christmas Child this year."

Fire service dumps Operation Christmas Child

South Wales Fire Service's director of corporate services, Norman Hillier, has "instructed that the brigade's normal involvement with this project be halted and any future involvement will be subject to an investigation of the .. organisation."

Brendan Paddy of Save the Children told the same reporter that it was dangerous when charities mixed their humanitarian work with promotion of a religious or political agenda. He also doubts the economic value of sending boxes full of donated goods, when transport costs are going to make items more expensive than they would be in the recipient country.

DHL cancels support for 'extremist' group

International courier service, DHL, has retracted its financial support for an "extremist evangelical" organisation after concerns raised by Muslims.

"We find it appalling that the likes of Franklin Graham firstly supports invasion of countries including Iraq and then they are one of the first to go in for 'aid'" - IACN

Samaritan's Purse preying on Catholic earthquake victims

El Salvador Earthquake March 2001:

Residents of several villages said volunteers from Samaritan's Purse, which has received more than $200,000 from the United States Agency for International Development and is to receive a second similar amount, has held half-hour prayer meetings before showing them how to build temporary homes of metal and plastic provided by the American government.

According to interviews with numerous villagers here and elsewhere in this predominantly Roman Catholic country, volunteers of the Protestant group have distributed religious tracts and asked them to accept Jesus Christ as their saviour.

According to the group's Web page, which quotes its president and chairman, Franklin Graham, in one village where the group provided supplies, 150 Salvadorans converted ..

Article by Dr. Darren Lund, Canadian Educator

An Operation Christmas Child representative explains in a promotion video; "It's not just a big gift. It's not just humanitarian aid. It is a tool for evangelism so thank you for helping us evangelise our people."

"Our outreach to these children and their families may begin with a shoe box gift," explains International President Franklin Graham, "but our ultimate goal is to open doors to share the Good News of Jesus Christ and to open hearts to receive Him as Lord and Saviour."

When I called their Canadian headquarters, I was assured that, regardless of their faith, all children receiving shoe boxes must register, attend a rally, and receive Christian literature where the government allows it. Graham is clear: "This project focuses on sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ with them through Christian literature distributed with the shoe boxes."

But Samaritan's Purse ministers don't stop there. Their newsletter explains: "After the shoe boxes are distributed, we also provide follow-up materials to give children further opportunities to accept Christ and grow in their faith. One such discipleship program enrolls boys and girls in a 10-lesson Bible study. Hundreds of thousands of children have participated in this program."

Graham and his followers admit they hold no respect for other faiths. He calls Islam "a very evil and wicked religion," and talks of his travels to "India, with its hundreds of millions of people locked in the darkness of Hinduism bound by Satan's power."

Franklin Graham, President of Samaritan's Purse, admits that the shoe box program is "not just about reaching children with a shoe box.... this project focuses on sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ with them through Christian literature distributed with the shoe boxes. I was also assured by a supervisor in the Samaritans Purse Canadian headquarters in Calgary that, besides being given biblical literature translated into their native language, each child wishing to receive a box will attend a mandatory Christian 'rally' in which the word of the Lord is proclaimed, in every country where it is legal. Further, a majority of the boxes are distributed in communities that have a resident evangelical Christian pastor who can provide 'follow-up' ministering. This is gift-giving with strings attached.

In Bosnia , where the Samaritan's Purse has been helping refugees move into new homes, Graham explains their motive: "By helping refugee families... we'll be earning the right to preach Christ to these families and their Muslim neighbours."

But isn't this taking advantage of people at their most vulnerable? Of course it is, according to Graham himself in his 1995 book Rebel With a Cause, because by responding to tragedies "we earn a hearing for Christ. When people are down and out and we stop and help, they will listen to what we have to say... you better believe I will take advantage of each and every opportunity to reach them with the gospel message that can save them from the flames of hell."

Notes

1. Mike Lake is a Derbyshire businessman, qualified teacher, founder of Derbyshire Secularists and Humanists and represents the British Humanist Association on Derby SACRE.
2. SACRE: Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education.
3. www.samaritanspurse.org
4. CBS news - after the events of 9/11
5. CNN - before the start of the war in Iraq
6. Franklin Graham speaking after the floods in New Orleans
7. Slate on-line magazine
8. Franklin Graham's thank you to the UK
9. Concerns of other religious groups 1
10. Concerns of other religious groups 2
11. Samaritan's Purse in Lebanon etc.
12. Operation Christmas Child promotional video - used outside the UK.
13. Franklin Graham - president of Samaritan's Purse which runs Operation Christmas Child
14. Franklin Graham in his book "Rebel without a cause"
15. The history of the Southern Baptist Church
16. Canadian students become unwitting Christian soldiers