Franklin Graham helped usher in the Christmas season at Fox News’ annual Christmas tree lighting in New York City, reminding the nation that giving is rooted in the very heart of the holiday. Standing before hundreds gathered on Fox Square, he pointed back to what he called “the first gift” of Christmas, God giving His Son, Jesus Christ.
Graham’s message came during the network’s holiday kickoff, as reported by Fox News, and centered on generosity, purpose and the mission of Samaritan’s Purse through Operation Christmas Child. The international project is preparing to deliver more than 13 million shoebox gifts to children in over 130 countries. Each box is filled with small treasures and essentials that reflect the love behind them.
Graham held up one of those gifts, a shoebox packed by his 3-year-old granddaughter. It contained a Minnie Mouse plush, school supplies and a handwritten note. It represented the simple yet powerful impact of a gift chosen with care. “This year, we’ll have about 13 million of these boxes,” he said. “Each one has about 30 gifts in it. And what we want to teach children is the importance of giving.”
Order Jonathan Cahn’s New Book, “The Avatar” on Amazon.com!
That foundation of giving runs throughout the project’s 30-year history. Graham told the crowd that the goal is not only to place gifts in children’s hands but also to nurture hearts that understand generosity. “God gave His Son, Jesus Christ,” he said. “And we want the children of the world to understand the importance of receiving a gift, and for the children who pack them, the importance of learning how to give.”
Fox News employees contributed to the effort themselves, packing more than 400 shoeboxes ahead of National Collection Week. Graham praised their involvement, saying, “To have the help of Fox, packing boxes, it’s been wonderful. It’s a great partnership.”
Nearly 300,000 volunteers support Operation Christmas Child and reach children in jungles, slums, mountainside villages, and remote Pacific islands. Almost 5,000 drop-off locations opened nationwide for families and churches delivering boxes filled with toys, hygiene items, and school supplies. Families can also build a shoebox online by selecting items and adding a photo or note.
The project’s reach extends far beyond the gifts themselves. Many distributions are coordinated through local churches that combine the shoeboxes with outreach events and follow-up programs. Graham said each gift provides a door to share more profound hope with a child. “I am so grateful for each and every person who makes this project possible and for every shoebox that opens the door for us to tell another child the Good News of Jesus Christ,” he told Fox News Digital.
As lights glowed across midtown Manhattan, Graham brought the moment back to its center. “Christmas is about giving,” he said. “God gave the first gift, His Son, Jesus Christ, who came to take our sins. At Christmas, we honor Jesus Christ and remember what He did for us.”
In a season crowded with distractions, Operation Christmas Child continues to point families toward the joy of giving freely and mirroring the generosity that defines the celebration of Christ’s birth.
James Lasher, a seasoned writer and editor at Charisma Media, combines faith and storytelling with a background in journalism from Otterbein University and ministry experience in Guatemala and the LA Dream Center. A Marine Corps and Air Force veteran, he is the author of The Revelation of Jesus: A Common Man’s Commentary and a contributor to Charisma magazine.
