Tel. (805) 543-2644 x590 Email: sally.ross@parable.com

(June 24, 2013) – The Parable Group is honored to be ministering alongside Samaritan’s Purse and Operation Christmas Child for the seventh year. At The Parable Group all-store banquet on Saturday, June 22 in St. Louis, Missouri, partner stores dined with and heard from Alex Nsengimana, a survivor of the Rwandan genocide and a recipient of a shoebox gift in 1995 that changed his life. The shoebox gift helped him develop a strong faith in Christ, and he was later inspired to plant a church in Rwanda and minister to the people who killed his family 19 years ago.

“Nsengimana’s story is nothing short of a miracle,” said Jeff Bruenning, Merchandising Manager for The Parable Group. “His story of hope inspires stores to continue their local efforts, helping their communities donate shoebox gifts that share the life-changing news of Jesus Christ.”

More than 100 million boys and girls in over 130 countries have experienced God’s love through the power of simple shoebox gifts from Operation Christmas Child.

The Parable Group has taken part in efforts to bring joy and a message of God’s love to children around the world through toys, hygiene items, school supplies and other small gifts. Local stores have provided shoeboxes and shoebox packing instructions to customers, and many have been shoebox collection centers in their communities.

The Parable Group and Operation Christmas Child partnered with Beverly Hills Teddy Bear Company to sell a musical plush lamb inspired by Ruth Bell Graham, who was moved by a Rwandan girl singing Jesus Loves Me. The musical plush lamb was designed specifically to be a shoebox gift and was sold exclusively in The Parable Group partner stores in 2011 and 2012.

"It was an incredible experience to see children receive one of the boxes with the musical lamb plush, knowing it was purchased from one of our partner stores," said Nancy Randise, Marketing Coordinator for The Parable Group, who joined Operation Christmas Child on a shoebox distribution trip to Ecuador in 2012. "Even small gifts greatly impact children around the world. But the best part is that every child who receives a shoebox is invited to participate in a discipleship program called The Greatest Journey, which results in countless life-changing decisions that significantly impact whole communities."

The Parable Group is committed to continued partnership with Samaritan’s Purse and Operation Christmas Child. In 2014 and every year on-going, two individuals from stores served by The Parable Group will aid in the delivery of shoeboxes to children in need by participating in a distribution trip with Operation Christmas Child.

"The Parable Group is excited to work with our partner stores to support Operation Christmas Child," said Steve Potratz, CEO and Founder of The Parable Group. "Samaritan’s Purse is sharing the Gospel with children all around the world and we are thrilled to have stores see first- hand what all those efforts look like in the eyes of children receiving shoeboxes.”

For over 25 years The Parable Group has helped independent stores buy, promote and sell products using data, technology and marketing expertise in the Christian market. The Parable Group is a leading retail services provider specializing in print and digital marketing for independent Christian stores, and delivering innovative, industry-leading marketing solutions connecting products and services to Christian consumers. For more information, contact Sally Ross (sally.ross@parable.com) or visit www.parablegroup.com. The Parable Group is based in San Luis Obispo, CA.