Narnia Fans Deliver Christmas Early

Christmas films are coming – none is more eagerly awaited than The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. Fans of the films adapted from the books by C.S. Lewis know that Narnia was once a land ruled by the evil White Witch who made it a place where it was “always winter, but never Christmas.” The Great Lion Aslan – the Christ-figure in Lewis’ stories – is ultimately responsible for the liberation of Narnia. But he calls four children: Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy to partner with him. Most children would give anything to take part in such a heroic tale.

Now they can.

Samaritan’s Purse has joined with 20th Century Fox, Walden Media, and Grace Hill Media to bring the hope and grace of Christmas, in the name of Jesus, to children who desperately need it. Through Operation Narnia (the film tie-in to Operation Christmas Child) – families fill gift-wrapped shoeboxes with items many of us take for granted, such as toothpaste, a bar of soap, socks, school supplies, and small toys -- then add a personal note, a check to cover the cost of shipping, and send it in. Samaritan’s Purse will ship them, and deliver them to a child who may never before have received a gift at Christmas. When the shoeboxes are delivered, the children get an opportunity to receive an additional present – the gift of salvation through the presentation of the gospel of Jesus Christ. They are then offered the opportunity to enroll in a 12 lesson Discipleship course called "The Greatest Journey.”

Randy Riddle, with Samaritan’s Purse, tells the story of Leijla Allison, “She was desperate, hungry – a child-victim of the war in Bosnia, and she believed that there was no God. It was the love Jesus Christ, embodied in the lives the missionary and the pastor who delivered the shoebox gift to her, that gave her the hope to keep living.”

Leijla is now married, lives in the United States, and she, her family, and her church support Operation Christmas Child.

Her story is not an isolated example.

This year, Operation Christmas Child expects to deliver over 8 million shoebox gifts to children around the globe. By teaming with The Voyage of the Dawn Treader fans, they hope to extend their reach to people who might otherwise be unaware of the program. “It was an obvious fit,” remarked Riddle. “The themes of the film -- courage, sacrifice, and redemption – are exactly why fans of the Chronicles of Narnia will want to take part. The Bible tells us to use any means possible to introduce Jesus to children and adults alike, and we think that any fan of C.S. Lewis will be a fan of Operation Christmas Child.”

For those people who might question an association between Hollywood and a Christian ministry, Riddle explained that this is a great opportunity for the studios to use their influence for good. “There have been a number of films that have arrived lately that promote forgiveness, redemption, and other Christian values. You just have to look for them, and you will find them.”

Operation Narnia gives families a chance to bring Narnian values (which are Christian virtues) out of the books and films and into reality. Like Narnia, there are places in this world that are filled with danger and despair. Somewhere a child is waiting, hoping that this year will be different, but frightened that it will not be. They are looking for something to lift them up.

Riddle notes that even though Operation Christmas Child expects to deliver over 8 million shoebox gifts this year, “there are 1.6 billion children in the world between the ages of 4 and 14 – all of whom need to know about Jesus Christ.” When I asked Riddle what they would do if Operation Narnia introduced an extra one to two million extra shoebox gifts into their distribution system this year, he smiled and said, “I believe that with God all things are possible. If the Lord blessed us with an extra million shoebox gifts or gospel opportunities, He will provide the way to share them, and the gospel, with each child.”

It is hard for many of us to imagine how a simple shoebox, wrapped in festive paper, containing everyday items and small toys, could make such an incredible difference in the life of a child. But when partnered with the Gospel it can, and it will. What a great honor it is to be able to be a part of it. Aslan would be pleased.

For more information about how to pack a shoebox and other details, visit: www.samaritanspurse.org or www.operationnarnia.org

Operation Christmas Child National Collection Week is November 15 through 22nd.

Marc T. Newman, Ph.D., is the president of MovieMinistry.com, an organization that provides sermon and teaching illustrations, Bible studies and discussion cards, drawn from popular film, and helps the Church use movies to reach out to others and connect with people. Dr. Newman is an associate professor in the School of Communication and the Arts at Regent University. Requests for media interviews, or reprints of this article, can be made to marc@movieministry.com