not to contribute to the Shoebox Appeal

[teamboleyn]

because it has a Christian message 'attached'? I have nothing against Christianity but can they not do a charitable act without having an ulterior motive?

I also keep hearing the argument that the UK organisation is independent of the USA operation. I accept that the boxes are packed in the UK and no leaflets are added in this country. However, it is part of an international program and once they are out of the country and shipped to different regions, there is no way to be sure who is handing them out and what other information is being given alongside. It is naive to think that all boxes in the UK are shipped out and then handed out by UK members of the organisation.

Thanks Welsh, I will . Good idea about doing the box for the elderly as well (a collection of Jaggers might go down well there, who knows?).

Those of you who are against things like this because of Evangalism, are you suggesting that the parents/family around these children are unable to talk with them about what they believe?

Are you suggesting that it is only Western families that are capable of having the ?yes, that is very nice information about Jesus, but this is what we believe? conversation?

I don?t doubt, that there are individuals, in particular parts of the world, who are using these boxes as a cynical ploy, but I don?t happen to believe that this is true for all. Evangelism is part of most faiths.

I have close friends who have set up a school in Ghana. They are not Christian (actually, I don?t think they would describe themselves as having any faith) but they welcome these boxes because it is often the only gifts the children in their school receive.

Parents in these countries are more than capable of having the same debates and discussions with their children as we are ? they are less fortunate than us in monetary terms, not in intelligence and parenting skills!
To suggest that they do not have the skills to inform their children is just wrong, and more than a little bit patronising.

Yay, found a collection point only five miles away, collecting by the end of next week! Will take it there, then. Thanks, Welsh.

I like the solider one as well.

I did Operation Christmas Child once. Then I found out more about them. I won't be doing it again. +1

But SandWitch, SP claim they have converted MILLIONS of children. So clearly, their powers of persuasion are immense.

Everything that Exexpat says, with bells on.

I have my own soldier to do a Crimble box for this year, but otherwise I think we'd do a soldier box. They arehugely appreciated.

Well said, SandWitch. Finding it a bit patronising for the overseas parents too, as you say they are more than capable of expressing any beliefs they may have too.

There is nothing wrong with trying to spread the Christain message

And which Christian message would that be? In all my years of studying religion (and it's been a few), I have yet to find one that can be universally agree on, by Christians themselves or anyone else for that matter.

Do you mean Franklin Graham's Christian message?
Do you mean the current Papally accepted version of the Bible (i.e. an umpteenth handed down message from Jesus)?
Do you mean the message which is devinely preserved by the Bible, simply by it being 'The Bible'?
Do you mean the liberal 'being nice to your neighbour and animals and children and stuff' message?

Or any of the hundreds of others I've encountered .

As you can probably tell, I'm no fan of Samaritan's Purse version of the Christian message, that God only loves you if you become like us.

The Greatest Journey programme has three steps: first is receipt of a Christmas box with 'colourful storybooks that explain the Good News of Jesus in their local language', second is a 12-step bible-study programme, third is acceptance into the local church

It's this bit that bothers me. Especially as the 12 step programme comes with further gifts - and is advertised as such. "Become a Christian and get Presents" - Now thats just plain wrong.

Send gifts by all means - Link Romania is fab - but don't pressure a child to convert with the promise of toys or sweets.

YANBU to do it, plenty of other charities to support in various ways.

It's not that the parents don't have the skills to speak to their children.

The recipients are vulnerable, poor, ill educated, often illiterate and desperate. Much easier to manipulate them.

Giving to a child who doesn't have much is a great thing to do but that's not what this charity is about.

The shoeboxes are expressly used as an evangelical tool.

"Every shoebox a gospel opportunity".

There are other more transparent ways to give to a child who doesn't have very much, get the warm fuzzy glow, without children being used to manipulate.

And really, satisfying a warm fuzzy glow for the giver without any thought of the consequences on the recipient, is neither charitable nor Christian. It's a bit self serving.

Absolutely agree with both Lady Felicity and Deux-have really nothing to add!

Acknowledging that very vulnerable people of all ages are open to manipulation isn't patronising, it's the truth.

My daughters school and my council (two separate councils) used to support Operation Christmas Child. I forwarded them info regarding this organisation and the lovely Islamaphobic Franklin Graham, and suggested supporting this organisation may be in breach of their Equal Opportunities policy.Worth a try for those of you whose schools are still supporting it. They withdrew their support very very quickly and we all do Marys Meals now :)

Are there any of the alternative options which are active in Ireland, does anyone know? I was going to do OCC this year with DD, but while we are somewhat religious, I do drives like this for non-religious reasons and would not want to have religion included as part of my giving.

Thanks for anyone who does know....
A good oul Irish Biddy

BiddyPop Marysmeals covers Ireland

Non religious IMO

www.marysmeals.ie/

(Marking my place so I can read this later)

I raised fairly mild objections last year with DD1's teacher about the Samaritans Purse appeal. The leaflets have just appeared in DD1 and DD2 book bags and I'm really keen to raise it more formally this year. I think I need to write to the head and the governors. Here is my draft - any suggestions?

Dear X

I have received leaflets in my daughters' book bags about the Samaritans Purse shoebox appeal and I am very dissappointed that our school continues to want to associate itself with an organisation with such evangenical and distasteful views. I am sure that the ethos of our school is open and equal to all but from my research of the parent organisations of this appeal this is not mirrored there, in particular the anti-Islamic views held by Franklin Graham and the charitable funds spent campaigning in the US against the recognition of gay marriage.

Our own family do not hold any faith and to support organisations with such aggressive evangelistic agendas is utterly unacceptable to us. However, my children, although they understand that we do not support people who cannot believe in the same standards of equality as we do, feel excluded from this school activity. I would ask that the SMT and board of governors consider carefully their continuing support of this organisation and if in future they might consider supporting a non-denominational organisation such as Mary's Meals back-pack appeal.

I am sure that you can all do your own research on the Samaritan's Purse but here are some links that I have found useful:

I look forward to hearing your thoughts.

Your

Mrs Remembering

rememberingnothing pretty good, but I would also mention the schools/council equal opportunities/anti-discriminatory policy and mention that by supporting OCC that they *could be viewed as not following their own policies by supporting an organisation ran by a man who has publicly made anti Islamic remarks. Thats why some councils/schools are dropping this like a hot potato.

Thanks, Susanne - have added in:

I have reviewed the schools aims and I think that the Samaritan's Purse cannot be seen to be in agreement with aim 8 - "...fostering respect for understanding of religions, beliefs and customs of others." Given that they see "Every shoebox a gospel opportunity" I believe that this organisation, and in particular, its US parent are not good behavioural role models for our children.

Letter now printed.

Thanks Susanne, I have just mailed them about their Back Pack appeal - which sounds like it could be what we're looking for!! Might even be something the school (as a multi-denominational one) might be interested in next year (or even this year if I'm not too late).

Our Church and DD's school both do this one Trussell Trust.