Sharing Christ at Christmas
During the Christmas season, when busyness is at a high for the year, remembering to slow down and reach out to those without Christ can be difficult. But those celebrations come at a time when people most seek the warmth and love that only comes through Christ—the real reason for any season. As you plan for this Christmas—and even Thanksgiving and New Years—don't forget to include on your schedule those who don’t know Christ. They may just receive the greatest Gift of all. Consider some of these ideas as you fill up your Holiday calendar:
Invite your friends and neighbors to dinner. People without family nearby might appreciate a little turkey, dressing and fellowship. Make a list of those who might like to join you, then send out handwritten or electronic invitations. Don't forget to include where, when, how to get there and what to bring. You might even have guests bring their favorite dish. Including a Nativity and Scripture among the table decorations are good conversation starters.
Send a Christmas letter. Never underestimate the power of a simple card. With piles of junk mail and bills cycling through our mailboxes, receiving a letter from a friend creates connection. Put some real thought into it and these letters can become an effective outreach tool. Remember to pray before you write. Reach more people by sending the same letter to everyone with personal notes attached. Don't sweat the grammar. Just open your heart and share what God's been doing in your life.
INVOLVE YOUR CHURCH
Whether you're providing gifts and food for families in need or holding a New Year's party at your church, keep these things in mind to make your outreach event a good gospel-sharing opportunity.
Remember the ABC's of outreach. Attract unchurched people by capturing their interest through meeting physical or community needs. Bridge the gap between Christ and non-Christians by creating a non-threatening environment, perhaps through good music and good food. Communicate the Gospel in a clear and relevant way. "I've gone to outreach events where the gospel was clearly communicated, but no one was there to hear it," says Toby Frost, executive director of mass evangelism. "I've also gone to events where the non-believers showed up but the gospel wasn't really mentioned."
Make planning materials your servant, not your master. Revival planning materials, block party manuals and sports evangelism planbooks can help with some essentials in using events to intentionally evangelize your “Jerusalem.” But only you know the needs and nuances of your community. Avoid the temptation to superimpose any planning manual lock-stock-and barrel onto your church.
Be creative and think big! Don't be afraid to try new things this Christmas season. If they work, then rejoice. If they don’t work, just revise your plan for next year. The key is to prayerfully risk great things for God.
Help them think outside the (gift)box. As Christians, we understand the real “eternal” meaning behind Christmas gifts. This is why the Christmas season provides a natural bridge to show Christ’s love in creative and effective ways. Here are a few suggestions:
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Offer to set up a “Free Gift Wrapping” station at your local mall.
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Provide a gas-buy-down through a local station. Simply get permission from the owner and for two hours on a Saturday afternoon, supplement .25 off every gallon of gas that is sold (set a limit of 20 gallons per car).
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In recent years a church printed up more than 1,000 cards that stated, “We genuinely want to brighten your day by demonstrating Christ’s love in a practical way . . . We hope you enjoy this gift!” On the back was basic congregational information. Church members were challenged to give out the cards as they randomly bought someone a cup of coffee at Starbucks, a meal at a restaurant or paid for the car behind them at McDonalds drive-thru.
Through our relationships, festivities and simple acts of kindness, we can make an eternal difference this holiday season.
Several of the ideas mentioned in this article are taken from the Evangelism Planner, a resource from NAMB’s Evangelization Group designed to help churches plan year-round outreach events. To receive your church’s free copy, contact the Evangelism Department at your Baptist State Convention office.
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