An evangelical Christian run charity has been exposed for allegedly mixing items collected for charity with religious material. The Muslim Weekly has been able to expose this scandal, which has been taking place across the country. Many schools and local organizations participate in ‘Operation Christmas Child' without knowing that the charity behind it, Samaritans purse, is run by the controversial Franklin Graham. Graham, a known Islamophobe, has attracted attention with his methods. There are claims that he uses Samaritans Purse to distribute Christian material to needy children, which is "from Jesus."

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He has also said that Islam is a "very wicked and evil religion." Graham has since refused to withdraw his comments or apologize for them.

‘Operation Christmas Child' takes place every year and it is run by the evangelical Christian organization which Graham leads. It has become the target of ‘campaign against operation Christmas child,' which is run by Innovative Minds and The Islamic Human Rights Commission. (IHRC)

The campaign tries to show the real aims of the project and expose racist comments made by Graham. It has also set out to warn participating outlets about the project.

Massoud Shadjareh, Chairman of the IHRC, told the Muslim Weekly: "What is most outrageous about this project is that it is based on deception and a very divisive form of Christianity."

"It is led by a preacher of hate, Franklin Graham, who has demonized Islam, Hinduism and indeed other religions."

The project asks schools to participate in the ‘noble' cause of helping children around the world who are less privileged, often living in very poor conditions and in child poverty. School children fill a shoebox with goodies like cuddly toys, a toothbrush, coloring books, gloves, greeting cards and make-up.

They are asked not to send edible items, medicine or any political, racial and religious literature etc. However, Grahams charity has been accused of adding that very material.

A representative of UK office, which delivered over 1.3 million boxes to Europe last year, of Samaritans Purse, Alistair McLean, told the Muslim Weekly that once a box reaches the designated centre of Samaritan's Purse it is checked to ensure that items from the ‘don't send' are not included.

He also admitted that the charity does add Christian material. "Wherever, culturally appropriate, Operation Christmas Child does offer, separately, a booklet of Bible stories explaining the true meaning of Christmas…Christmas Child's local partner will gain prior permission from the relevant school director or teacher, or orphanage director, to distribute the boxes and, if appropriate, the booklets."

Such actions have led to claims that it is targeting vulnerable children to accept Christianity, involving deception of the recipients who are not told the real aims of the operation. The Charities Commission slammed ‘Operation Christmas Child' for hiding its ‘missionary aims' from the parents of school children asked to support the scheme.

Mr. Simon Barrington, general manager of Samaritan‘s Purse UK, said: "these [i.e. gifts] are given totally unconditionally. The recipients are of all races, religions and politics. There is no bias in distribution, no coercion - just need."

Franklin Graham has steadfastly defended his comments and his record. He has recently said: "Jesus also taught his followers to love others. It is this central teaching of Christianity that motivates my life and work, as a relief worker as well as a minister. While as Christians we disagree with Islamic teachings, if we obey the teachings of Jesus we will love all Muslims."

He has highlighted his organization's relief work for Muslims around the world. "In recent years we have provided more relief to Muslim people than to any other group in the world - support valued at tens of millions of dollars in places like Bosnia, Kosovo, Sudan, Afghanistan, Turkey and Iraq."

"I do not believe Muslims are evil people because of their faith. I personally have many Muslim friends. But I decry the evil that has been done in the name of Islam, or any other faith - including Christianity."

Whilst we welcomed the front page expose, we felt that for a Muslim publication the article could have gone further in informing its Muslim audience. Letter we sent to the Editor of the Muslim Weekly (so far unpublished):

21st December 2004

Thank you for your expose on Operation Christmas Child.

The inclusion of missionary material with the so-called "gift" shoe boxes is just the tip of their unsavoury activities. Their 2003 report suggests that 4 out of every 5 children who accept the "gift" shoebox, in return, end up being enrolled in a follow-up 10-lesson indoctrination bible study course! This figure is based on their India campaign where they boast 265,000 children have been enrolled just last year; they are also active in over a dozen Muslim countries including Pakistan. The same report gives the story of a 13 year old Indian boy, a street cleaner, who has been brought up to stay away from missionaries. He finally succumbs to them after being enticed with a "gift" shoe box of toys which is "too tempting". He is told it has been sent to him "by Jesus".

This organisation targets the most vulnerable - the children, and those ravaged by war and disaster. During 1982 Israeli invasion of Lebanon it was reported that they rode in with the Israeli convoys to target the Palestinian refugees for conversion. In 1990 they sent 30,000 Arabic bibles for US troops to give to Iraqi POWs - Christianity at gunpoint! Last year they proudly declared that in Afghanistan with the help of the Canadian military they got "MUSLIM children to celebrate Christmas for the first time".

For more information please visit the "Campaign Against Operation Christmas Child" website.

[ CAMPAIGN HOME PAGE ]

URL: http://www.inminds.com/occ-media2.html