Trail Life Troops Have the Opportunity to Deliver a ‘Much Bigger Gift That Will Possibly Impact Generations’
GREENVILLE, S.C.— As the holiday season quickly approaches, Trail Life USA (TrailLifeUSA.com), the largest Christ-centered, boy-focused scout-type organization in the country, is proud to partner with Samaritan’s Purse once more as they start their annual “Operation Christmas Child” campaign. Dedicated to delivering toys, clothing, hygiene products and other useful items to children in need, Samaritan’s Purse encourages individuals and families to fill a shoebox with these items, then ships the boxes around the world to children who lack these basic necessities. Since 1993, Samaritan’s Purse has delivered more than 168 million shoeboxes in over 100 countries.
For Trail Life, this mission goes hand-in-hand with their goal of raising up godly young men as leaders of character. Every year, Trail Life Troops across the country gather to assemble shoeboxes to share the gospel with children in need.
Said CEO Mark Hancock, “It’s great to see the look on kids faces when they open the boxes and see what our Trailmen have sent them. The partnership with Samaritan’s Purse is just a natural match for Trail Life. Operation Christmas Child is a Christ-centered campaign that wants to see the Gospel spread around the world, and our Troops really get the sense that they are not just putting stuff in a box, but that they are delivering a much bigger gift that will possibly impact generations.”
For Trail Life Troops and leaders, this campaign is a great opportunity to talk with boys about the example of Christ. Said Hancock, “In taking on the form of a boy who ‘grew in favor with God’ and became a man, Jesus became the template for biblical manhood. Christ’s example of servant leadership is the perfect model of biblical masculinity for our Troops, and we challenge our boys to use it as a guide for their own lives.”
“We want the children of the world to know that God loves them, cares for them, and sent His son from Heaven to earth for them—this is a mission that we know we share with organizations like Trail Life,” said Samaritan’s Purse president and CEO Franklin Graham. “There is a war on Christianity and moral values right now, but Trail Life is doing a tremendous job at raising up godly young men—and it’s clearly making a difference.”
National Collection Week for the Samaritan’s Purse shoeboxes is November 15 to 22. For more information about “Operation Christmas Child,” click here.
Trail Life USA is the premier national character development organization for young men, producing godly and responsible husbands, fathers, and citizens. Trail Life’s mission is to guide generations of courageous young men to honor God, lead with integrity, serve others, and experience outdoor adventure. Troops exist in all 50 states and are growing as Trail Life USA expands around the country. Find a Troop for your son today, or Start a Troop in your area. Find out more at TrailLifeUSA.com.
Since Trail Life USA launched on January 1, 2014, it has grown to over 35,000 members in over 880 Troops across the nation. The K-12 program centers on outdoor experiences that build a young man's skills. A robust awards program motivates young men to grow on a personal level to become role models and leaders among their peers. Living the Trail Life USA is a journey established on timeless values derived from the Bible.
