Our Jesus Christmas Party

Several months ago, I realized that this year I had the means to put on a "Birthday Party for Jesus" or a Christ centered Christmas party. A group of us from our church go to a poor area to do a children's program. We sing songs, play games, do crafts, and teach Bible stories. Essentially, the same things I would want to do at our party. When I approached some one about the idea, she said, just name a date and we'll get a team together. Naming a date proved a bit tricky with everyone having busy holiday schedules, but we squeezed it on a calendar and that very day a group was rounded up to come out to our house.

Most people in our neighborhood know nothing about Jesus, Christianity, the reason for Christmas. With less than 1% of the population of Thailand being Christian, they have few opportunities to learn about the gospel. Christmas is a Western holiday about presents, decorations, and Santa Claus. While we aim to be lights in our neighborhood, we mainly do this through our actions since our Thai is still not very good. This year, with help, we could verbally share with our neighbors.

We prayed, prepared, and handed out invitations. Hollis gave them to the children in her preschool class. One afternoon, we walked around the neighborhood handing them out. We spread the word through moped taxi drivers and food vendors. In the end, we had no idea how many children would come. I expect maybe five, but with the faith of a mustard seed, I prepared for 15-20.

I also prepared myself to be flexible. I can sometimes get a certain plan in my head and get frustrated when things work out different. I had the idea to do the Christmas story in the living room, so the children could see the tree and all the decorations. When the church group arrived, it worked out better for them to set up their projector outside. No problem; I was flexible. A good thing, too.

At the time the party was to start, one family drove up and another walked down our street. Well, at least we'd have two children plus our own four. I greeted them, and we headed in the house to start the craft project. I hardly had time to get them started before more people came pouring in the door. Hollis recognized some children from her preschool. Neighbor children and those I had never seen before entered, escorted by older siblings and parents.

As we prepared for singing and the story, Philip looked in our store room for mats to lay out on the ground. (It's common here to sit on the ground.) As the mats were filled, he kept finding more and more mats we never knew we had! In the end, we had about 15 children and 20 adults (some were curious neighbors who came without children) who had never heard the gospel before. A man from church shared the Christmas story, then a bit about Creation and who God is, about Adam and Eve and the first sin, the gospel, and finally his testimony.

Afterwards, we shared some food and conversation. Those from the church spoke with different groups of people, answering questions and sharing further. We were also able to give each child a small gift and a coloring booklet of the Nativity. We were so amazed and thankful how God had used our willingness to use our resources to share in this way. May God continue to use us and increase our faith!