Full Circle Grace – OCC is Changing Lives

News, Operation Christmas Child

Saturday brought a powerful reminder of why we pour our hearts into Operation Christmas Child (OCC) each year. During the Southwest Florida OCC workshop in Fort Myers, our local team experienced an unforgettable, full-circle moment of God’s providence.

Years ago, our church showed two impactful ministry videos: Veronica’s Story and Prison to Praise. Today, those stories walked off the screen and into the room.

A Chain Reaction of Faith

The journey began in a Mexican prison, where a visiting pastor shared the Gospel with a man named Hilario Morales. Hilario accepted Christ, turned his life around, and went on to start a local orphanage.

Around the same time, a young girl named Veronica found herself living on the streets after her mother was imprisoned. She found refuge in the very orphanage Hilario built.

While living there, Operation Christmas Child arrived, and Veronica received a shoebox filled with gifts. Through that simple box and the follow-up discipleship course, The Greatest Journey, Veronica surrendered her life to Jesus Christ.

Where She Is Now

Veronica continued serving at the orphanage into her youth. Eventually, she was adopted by a family in Washington state, completed her education, and later relocated to Fort Lauderdale.

Today, she stepped up to the stage in Fort Myers as a full-circle OCC recipient to share her testimony. Seeing her in person brought home the incredible truth of how God connects every piece of the puzzle—from a pastor entering a prison, to a child receiving a shoebox, to a transformed life standing right before our eyes.

Get Involved & Important Dates

First Baptist Church of LaBelle is now in its 13th year of partnering with Operation Christmas Child. Every shoebox packed, every prayer offered, and every shipping fee donated sets off a spiritual chain reaction across the globe.

Mark your calendars for these upcoming OCC events:

  • Packing Party: Saturday, October 31st
  • National Collection / Drop-off Week: Third week of November (Nov. 16–23)

Our God is truly amazing, and we are deeply grateful to be part of a ministry that carries the Hope of Jesus to the ends of the earth. Thank you, FBC LaBelle family, for your ongoing heart and support for OCC!