The following season reflection write-up was submitted as the ministry report into the Clayton Church Annual Report for 2015. It has been censored for XBOP publication here.
Since 2014, the church has contributed to Operation Christmas Child shoe-boxes through the passionate service of 9 individuals [censored for XBOP publication]. The following table summarises just how far the ministry has come in the span of two years.
| 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | |
| Total boxes collected | 450+ | 654 | 730+ (tally as at end of October) |
| Events (packing parties) held | None | Surge, 30 July (100 boxes)
UCC, 14 Nov (70 boxes) |
Young Working Adults, 29 July (98 boxes)
Christians 20/30, 3 Oct (30 boxes) Cafe Care, 26 Sept Playgroup, over 3 weeks in October Kids Church packing of 40 sponsored boxes |
| Sunday market stalls | None | 4 weeks in November | 4 weeks in October |
| Sunday Service Collection | 1 & 8 December | 25 October (Shoebox Sunday) | |
| Warehouse Involvement | None | Ad-hoc; 9 December to support December late collection | Volunteer Group, 7 Nov |
Whilst the above table highlights how each year we have set new records with the total number of boxes collected, we constantly remind ourselves that it is not about number of boxes, but instead about the kids and their opportunities to be blessed, hear and learn about The Greatest Journey/Jesus. Collecting shoe-boxes is only the first step in the entire journey; our church has also had an opportunity to volunteer at the Processing Warehouse located in Mitcham where shoe-boxes are processed and packed into cartons (containing 24 boxes), pallets (12 cartons) and ultimately the shipping container (40 pallets). The final steps of the OCC journey, where shoe-boxes are delivered to the local villages and distributed, is a special experience that 5 of us [XBOP censoring] will all get to experience from 1-11 February 2016! Getting involved in this ministry is a great way for individuals to connect into the wider body of Christ, within the church and beyond. Thank you to everyone who has given of their time to be the hands and feet of God.
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