FBC Brings Joy to Families at Christmas

By Kylee Smith, Contributing Writer

Every year, the First Baptist Church of Centralia organizes an event called Operation Christmas Child.

 Many community members and students from Centralia High School help with this event.  

The church collects donations of clothes and toys from members of the church. They fill each box with the items, seperated by age and gender. These boxes are then sent to children and families in other countries and territories who might otherwise go without.
 
Sophomore Noah Kropf is a member of the church and youth group. Kropf enjoys going to church at First Baptist and loves being a part of this event.  “I feel like it’s almost become tradition with our church. It’s one of my favorite things the church does,” says Kropf. 

Operation Christmas Child started in 1993 by an organization called The Samaritan’s Purse.  The Samaritans Purse is a Christian organization that provides aid to people in physical need as a key part of its Christian missionary work.

When asked about their specific role in the project, senior Tarryn Vega says, “I package the boxes and I always bring toy items.”  Vega has been a member of the First Baptist Church for seven years, a member of the youth group and occasionally works in the nursery. 

First Baptist Church has been doing this event for ten years and would like to continue to help those in need in future years.