Columbine Survivor Shares Love of Christ with Children of Beslan

By Allie Martin
December 15, 2004
(AgapePress) - "A young woman who lived through the harrowing Columbine High School shootings in Littleton, Colorado, in 1999 has helped deliver shoeboxes full of Christmas gifts -- along with a message of Christian love and encouragement -- to survivors of the recent school hostage crisis that left hundreds dead in Beslan, Russia.
The survivor of the Columbine tragedy says after delivering the Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes filled with Christmas gifts, she told the Beslan hostage crisis survivors how she recovered after her ordeal and encouraged the youngsters to place their faith in Christ. She says she believes the shoebox gifts can touch the hearts of those who have endured tragedy.

At the same time, Woodman Miller says she hopes her presence and prayers have also helped to encourage healing for the young Beslan siege victims, and that "in words and with my arms just wrapped around them, hugging them and loving them, that they will know the love of Jesus Christ in a tangible way -- that they will know that there is hope."

Miller recently flew to Russia on a plane packed with 425,000 shoeboxes. The purpose of the trip was to deliver the gifts as part of Operation Christmas Child, an annual outreach of the Samaritan's Purse ministry.