Liberty University team delivers shoebox gifts to hurricane-ravaged Jamaica, travels in historic DC-8 plane gifted to LU

Liberty University President Dondi E. Costin and Chancellor Jonathan Falwell joined students, staff, and representatives from Samaritan’s Purse on a trip to Jamaica on Friday to deliver 9,200 Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts to children affected by Hurricane Melissa. They traveled aboard the last U.S.-registered DC-8 aircraft, which was recently retired and donated to Liberty, where it will remain on display after landing at Lynchburg Regional Airport on Saturday night.

The team departed the Samaritan’s Purse Airlift Response Center in Greensboro, N.C., on Friday morning and after landing in Kingston, they participated in an outreach event at Bible Truth Ministry International, where they handed out 100 shoeboxes filled with toys, school supplies and personal care items. The boxes were packed by Liberty University and Thomas Road Baptist Church.

“It’s such a full-circle moment to see the shoeboxes that were packed on Liberty’s campus come here to Jamaica and for the kids to get those boxes,” said student Cassie Straub, president of Liberty’s Operation Christmas Child Club. “It was really cool to see how Samaritan’s Purse ties in the Gospel to the box and talks about how Jesus is the greatest gift. He is a free gift we receive, just like these shoeboxes.”

“Seeing the joy on the kids’ faces and knowing how much this gift means to them — it was a cool experience to see and interact with the kids,” she added.

Straub was one of nine students on the trip, including Student Body President Isaac Kantola.

“It was incredibly cool to see the way this works on the other side,” he said, noting he grew up packing OCC shoeboxes with his family at church. “My parents and I had been wanting to do this experience for a while. It was very, very cool to see.”

On Saturday, the group went to Black River Independent Church for another outreach event. They will return to Lynchburg Saturday evening on the DC-8’s final flight.

Over the past 10 years, the DC-8 served as Samaritan’s Purse’s primary heavy-lift aircraft, carrying more than 9.2 million pounds of life-saving cargo on 218 missions worldwide. The N.C.-based organization gifted the historic aircraft to Liberty University, noting that Liberty offers one of the largest faith-based collegiate aviation programs in North America. The plane will remain on display to remind students how God can use aviation as a tool for the Gospel.

Liberty has been a longtime partner of Samaritan’s Purse, sending teams to assist with its disaster relief efforts around the country and around the world.

“For a decade, the DC-8 has helped us reach more people around the world for the Gospel—getting the right supplies and people to places devastated by disasters and crises. As the DC-8 prepares to complete its final mission, we praise God for how He has used this plane to change lives,” said Franklin Graham, president of Samaritan’s Purse. “Aviation plays a critical role in our work, and we replaced this 1968 DC-8, which has reached the end of its service life, with a 767, allowing us to transport even more supplies to people in need in Jesus’ Name.”

“This generous legacy gift will stand as a permanent reminder to our students of what faithful ministry looks like at scale,” said Liberty President Dr. Dondi E. Costin. “For decades, this magnificent aircraft carried hope into disaster zones and war-torn regions in some of the hardest places during the darkest moments around the world. Bold faith requires both vision and sacrifice. This reminder will inspire the next generation of Champions for Christ to ask, ‘How can I serve Jesus with that same vision and urgency?’”

Falwell said he is grateful to the entire Graham family and Samaritan’s Purse for their friendship in the faith and their partnership in the Gospel.

“For generations, they have reached countless lives worldwide sharing the love of Jesus, serving those in crisis, and ministering to children in need,” he said. “This DC-8 is the first major gift of its kind to Liberty. It’s a historic testament to our shared commitment to reach the world through the life-changing message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ while meeting people’s urgent needs through humanitarian relief. As Liberty continues the mission of training the next generation of Champions for Christ who will serve through mission aviation, this aircraft will be an encouraging reminder of our past while pointing boldly to the future, inspiring our students to reach the nations for Christ.”