Class project changed because of ties to evangelical group

A classroom project aimed at helping less fortunate children turned into a bigger lesson this week at Stratton Elementary School when the teacher and principal realized the charity selected was part of an evangelical Christian organization.

The fourth graders were looking for a community-service type project, and one parent suggested Operation Christmas Child, said principal Duane Helfer.

The flier that went home to parents described it as a humanitarian project in which the students would decorate and fill shoeboxes with school supplies, small toys, personal items and other small gifts. The boxes would be shipped to needy children all over the world.

What Helfer and teacher George Hoepfner didn't realize, Helfer said, was that a children's Gospel booklet translated into the appropriate language would be sent with the boxes. They found out Tuesday when The Gazette inquired about the project after receiving information about it from a parent.

Lesson learned, Helfer said Wednesday.

"We needed to do a little more research," he said.

The lesson was shared Wednesday with Hoepfner's students.

"We'll talk to the kids and tell them we have new information about this organization," Helfer said. "We don't want to be forcing any particular views on the people we help. It's always a little touchy when you're talking about religion."

Operation Christmas Child is part of Samaritan's Purse, a worldwide evangelical Christian organization. The program mission as stated on the organization's Web site: "The mission of Operation Christmas Child is to demonstrate God's love in a tangible way to needy children around the world, and together with the local church worldwide, to share the Good News of Jesus Christ."

Helfer said the students will be encouraged to look for another charity that can use the items they're collecting without promoting any particular religion or cause.

The classroom is part of the Student-Centered Academic Interdisciplinary Learning Lab, or SAIL, which is in the Colorado Springs School District 11's gifted and talented program. One aim of the program is to help students become civic leaders so they are urged to participate in community service, Helfer said. Many of the students will go into middle and high school programs that require community service.