One of the few living centenarians has just filled his 1,000th box for Operation Christmas Child, an organization run by Samaritan’s Purse.
“I hope [the children] are blessed and realize that God looks after them and that there’s still hope for them,” Ira Miller, 104, told CBN News. “The Lord has blessed me, and I still want to do something for the children who don’t know the Lord,” he shared. “I return all my thanks to Him.”
Miller, with the help of his daughter Debbie Welch, completed this 1,000-box feat in just four years.
“When Grandpa turned 100, he packed 100 shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child. Since then, he has packed 1,000 shoeboxes. Yesterday was the day he packed his 1,000th.” -Leah H.
Read more about Leah’s grandfather, Ira Miller, & his inspiring story here: https://t.co/K291UUKiAS pic.twitter.com/KkDTDKiDHj
— Operation Christmas Child (@OCC_shoeboxes) April 9, 2021
Even though he had been boxing Operation Christmas Child boxes for years, Miller began packing many more the day he turned 100. As a celebration for turning 100 years old, Miller decided he wanted to fill 100 boxes for children in need around the world. Miller has continued packing even more boxes every year since his 100th birthday, now turning them out to the tune of 333 a year or almost 1 per day.
Miller’s granddaughter, Leah Hansen, also commented on Miller’s charitable spirit, telling Samaritan’s Purse, “My grandfather has a love for others and has put his heart into packing these shoeboxes. … My children, through watching [him], are realizing that these aren’t just toys, but each item has been prayed over and will hopefully help the child who receives it.”
Ultimately, though, Miller views his shoebox gifts as a chance to be a missionary for The Lord. He and Welch told Samaritan’s Purse that the boxes give children a chance to hear about The Lord in places all across the world.
“These 100 boxes are going to 100 children around the world and they’re going to hear about Jesus,” Welch told Samaritan’s Purse. “I just focus on giving God glory for His faithfulness that Dad can still be a missionary at 100.”
Photo courtesy: Operation Christmas Child Twitter
John Paluska has been a contributor for Christian Headlines since 2016 and is the founder of The Washington Gazette, a news outlet he relaunched in 2019 as a response to the constant distribution of fake news.