ICC Note: Since 2014, the American Humanist Association (AHA) has been working to cease the ministry of Operation Christmas Child, a ministry under the organization Samaritan’s Purse. The ministry seeks to share the Gospel with children in developing countries through shoeboxes filled with gifts and Christian materials. AHA’s legal director has stated that public schools should not be involved in this program as it would allegedly violate the US Constitution’s Establishment Clause.

By Ruth Gledhill

11/17/2016 United States (Christian Today) – Humanists in America are attempting to ban the practice of getting school children to fill shoeboxes with gifts to send to children in deprived parts of the world.

The American Humanist Association wants to stop Operation Christmas Child, run by Franklin Graham’s organisaton Samaritan’s Purse, from promoting the shoebox scheme.

The goals of the scheme include evangelism and discipleship.

The court case came in the official collection week for the shoeboxes, packed by children throughout the world with pens, colouring pencils, paper, small toys and other gifts for sending to countries in Africa and elsewhere.

The American Humanist Association filed the original lawsuit in 2014 and then appealed in February this Year.

The association’s Humanist Legal Center is arguing against the scheme on the grounds of the First Amendment, which ensures freedom of religion and the separation of church and state.

David Niose, legal director of the association, claimed Colarado’s Douglas County School District had repeatedly promoted evangelical Christian programs. He specifically mentioned Operation Christmas Child as well as the Fellowship of Christian Athletes programs.

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