to ask for your help in writing an objection to Operation Christmas Child?

[autumnwinds]

Our local primary is supporting OCC and has published a piece in the village magazine explaining how wonderful it is and how much the local children enjoy it, what a difference it makes to needy children, and inviting local residents to donate too. The piece omits any reference to the evangelical christian literature that is distributed with the parcels and the way that the gifts are used as a tool to agressively convert recipients to christianity.

I would like to write a reply for publishing in next month's issue trying to give the full picture so that people can make an informed choice about whether to donate to this charity, and to suggest some alternatives that don't come with the religious baggage.

As I don't have a child at the primary yet I'm not sure about tackling the school itself about it (they are not a faith school, so not sure they should be supporting this). DC will be starting next year so I might save that fight for next xmas!

Anyway does anyone have any ideas about a few lines I could write, something succinct and unemotional? I feel quite cross about it but don't want to come across as an equally fundamentalist atheist. I've been looking for some evidence on the web for people who want to know more but most of it is not well referenced...

Suited to a community school

Exexpat while it is certainly our hope that children receiving gift-filled shoeboxes will want to know more about Jesus - the reason for the season - it is their decision, and that of their parents/carers, whether or not they take the classes. And that is how it should be. There is no coercion on our part, or on the part of the local churches involved, no manipulation, no pressure and no abuse.

Sit emptor decernere - let the buyer decide!

I think asking school if they are aware of the overtly evangelical nature of occ is enough to have them respond yes I know and I am fine with it and I as head thinks it is wholly appropriate...
Or errrr nooooo

See Brian when I look on this site
request.org.uk/people-places/2013/08/05/cafod-christian-charity/ I see that cafod ..another Christian org ..works to "reduce poverty" laudable whatever your faith.
On the same page I click n Samaritans purse and its aim is to "help those in need and proclaim the work of the gospel"
Giving the evangelical purpose the same weight.

Cafod works "for a safe sustainable and peaceful world "

Sp Works "to proclaim and demonstrate the love of god "

People need to be aware what they are supporting.

I didn't know this was an evangelical Christian charity until MN

cestlavielife If people want to know the mission and purpose of Samaritan's Purse it's not hard to find! From what I see and know from my experience on Mumsnet, there's an agenda, a concerted campaign by some for people to know the truth about Samaritan's Purse and Operation Christmas Child. I want that too. What gets these others agitated though is people knowing this truth and yet still wanting to support the work and ministry of the charity!

Grennie is that a problem?!

I would not support an evangelical Christian charity. Especially one that actively campaigns against gay marriage.

It's a problem for those of us who don't want to be involved in evangelism, yes. That is, I don't think SP should stop evangelizing just because I don't like it, but it is an absolute bar against my getting involved with OCC.

It is a problem for me as it seems that OCC's biggest priority is using these boxes as an excuse to teach and convert vulnerable children to their more extreme brand of Christianity. A brand of Christianity that usually sits at odds with the majority of people in the UK, IMO. You might not want to hear this Brian but many folk in the UK do not feel comfortable with what Franklin Graham believes, represents and politically campaigns for. Issues like banning or restricting abortion, evangelising vulnerable children in the hope of converting them, campaigning against same sex marriage as they believe homosexuality is a sin, etc.

And just received my OCC leaflet from school today. Will have to consider what approach I wish to take. Will not be filling a shoebox but undecided whether to take it further with the school.

Grennie and HorryIsUpduffed, you are entitled to your opinion ...

I think it is worth at least checking with the school that they know what kind of organisation this is.

True, there are atheists, gay parents, women who will have had abortions, Muslim families at the school. I wouldn't imagine they would have much in common with Franklin Graham.

Bling what information did your leaflet give.

Brian that's the coward's way of saying "You're wrong." I'm not fooled

insert missing ?

BlingBang You make telling children about Jesus, in a safe and comfortable environment, with the full knowledge and consent of their parents. sound something so terrible. This is no more than what the Christian church does here in Sunday school classes or school assemblies all over this country. You can read The Greatest Journey curriculum online for yourself. Do that and tell me it is as awful as you make out!

While we love to see and hear of children receiving the Gospel message, please remember it is local churches who are spending time with the children, faithfully communicating it, not us. Conversion to Christianity is a decision, one that only you or I, or a child can make once we have heard the Gospel.

You may be familiar with John 3:16, but read on!

16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

18 “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”

I don't doubt there are many people in the UK who don't like what the Bible says about the kinds of issues you have raised, regrettably inside and outside the church, but what the Bible says is quite clear. That isn't going to change!

HorryIsUpduffed No, I'm simply saying you are entitled to your opinion, as I am mine. There are things we may never agree on, that doesn't make either one of us wrong. It's called tolerance!

Oh dear, according to the bible I am condemned and cannot be saved < face >

Good job I don't believe any of that then

Brian, I'm not anti religion as long as it is practised in what I condider a tolerant, totally by choice and on judgemental way. however, I don't belive in god or Jesus being his son. How can I promote this being spread to vulnerable children then, especially through organisations which are headed by the likes of Graham.

I see Graham and his followers to by quite unethical and dangerous. Why would I support this? But nic try at deflecting what I was actually saying and making it about me being mean and not wanting to givlittle children some plastic tat at Christmas (a time of the year that many of them don't even celebrate).

Why not give these poor children the shoe boxes at Eid or such if they are Muslim when it will be a real treat for them and mean something to them. Spread your love, tolerance and understanding.

I was unaware of the true nature of OCC as an evangelising tool until last year, when I was horrified to find that the boxes were not simply a gift to needy children with no strings attached. Billy Graham is on record as saying that Islam is 'wicked and evil'. I note that on another thread about OCC, Brian Bennett said you cannot believe everything you read - true, but I think you CAN believe your own eyes and ears: . Our school has a largely Muslim population, and for Muslim families (and others) to be pulled into this scheme without the full facts being totally transparent is abhorrent. I want nothing to do with it; our school was alerted to the facts about OCC this week, and full credit to the Head that the scheme has been withdrawn immediately and replaced with another one. Please don't believe that it is 'too late this year' to do something about it - a simple note to parents to explain, together with redirection to another scheme is all that is required. At the very least links should be provided to parents so that they can decide for themselves; most people simply take things at face value and trust that a scheme is what it portrays itself to be. Personally, I would rather donate funds directly so that the basics that people really need can be purchased, but many people like their children to enjoy the pleasure of giving and passing happiness on to others - it's just that this absolutely should be done with no strings, without the agenda of organizations headed by the likes of Billy Graham and his disrespect for other people's life choices.

People can preach what they want. But I do not want to unknowingly fund that. There would rightly be an outcry if I tried to fund my beliefs about feminism and get others to fund it, in this duplicitious way.

BlingBang It's not uncommon for Imams and Muslims in some of the communities where we work to support and give their approval for the distribution of gift-filled shoeboxes at Christmas. They recognise that this is a Christian festival and respect our right to celebrate the birth of Jesus; as I have said, we don't get any complaints from the people and communities we serve!

Brian , maybe they are as unknowing about those behind Samaritans Purse and what they stand for -you know pretty much the way that most parents where this scheme is run in their schools are. You definitely keep it quiet.

I love it when religious people quote their fictional work of choice as if it is some kind of proof of something.