SURINAME — Charahja began teaching the discipleship course The Greatest Journey to other children in her native Suriname on the northeastern coast of South America. When she was just 14 years old. Working with her mother, the two are passionate about seeing children reached with the Good News of Jesus Christ.

Charahja Van Broekhoven – The Greatest Journey Teacher:

Dear Father, I want to thank you for all the children that are going to come to the outreach events, and I hope and I pray that they accept You as their Lord and Savior. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

The first time I received my shoebox, the moment I opened it, I was overjoyed. I was extremely happy.

Right after I got the shoebox, I went everywhere with my mother.

I always love seeing them open it, and gives you a special kind of joy. And The Greatest Journey is a program where the goal is to make disciples. We try to make disciples of every little kid there is, because that’s, I think, the fastest way to spread the Gospel.

I started with The Greatest Journey with my mom. Everything she said kind of stuck with me.

Abigail Singotiko – Charahja’s Mother:

I did trainings with the Ministry Partners. She went with me to some of them. When I see her, it makes me proud because I know that she wants to learn.

Charahja:

When I was 14 years old, I started teaching my first The Greatest Journey lesson on my own. I was young when I started to follow Jesus seriously. And I know that Jesus makes me happy, and I hope that Jesus makes them happy as well.

Abigail:

I believe that when children disciple children, it has a bigger impact because they see what their peers need, and they really know what to say to them.

It really means a lot to me to be able to teach The Greatest Journey together with my daughter. I tell other teachers I teach my daughter, and that they should do the same, because when we grow too old, they have to take over from us. That’s really a blessing.

Charahja:

My prayer for the people that I teach is to accept Jesus in their life. If I share the Gospel to them, I hope, I really, really hope that they share the Gospel with everyone they know, to everyone around the world, not just in Suriname… to everyone.

Samaritan’s Purse is a nondenominational evangelical Christian organization providing spiritual and physical aid to hurting people around the world. Since 1970, Samaritan’s Purse has helped meet the needs of people who are victims of war, poverty, natural disasters, disease, and famine with the purpose of sharing God’s love through His Son, Jesus Christ. The organization serves the Church worldwide to promote the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The mission of Operation Christmas Child is to demonstrate God’s love in a tangible way to children in need around the world. Through this project, Samaritan’s Purse partners with the local church worldwide to share the Good News of Jesus Christ and make disciples of the nations.

The Greatest Journey is a 12-lesson discipleship course designed for Operation Christmas Child shoebox recipients. Children who participate in the program learn how to follow Christ and share Him with others. As they do, entire families and communities are transformed by the power of the Gospel, and churches are started.

CONTACT: Kaitlyn Lahm, news@samaritan.org

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