When It Comes to Holiday Outreach, Who Needs Us to Reach Out?
- Reach Out to The Unsaved: A Good Time to Share the Good News
Prepare for people to visit your church who rarely attend church and do not have have a personal relationship with the Lord. They could be unsaved family or friends of regular attendees. They could be people who respond to an advertisement to a special program at your church. Make sure the Gospel message is clearly presented. Extend a warm welcome and invitation to return. Develop some form of follow-up that is unobtrusive yet shows you care.
Christmas Outreach Ideas and Resources
- Reach Out to Those Who Struggle: A Good Time to Show the Love of Christ
Prepare to serve one another. As you approach the holidays, both Thanksgiving and Christmas, remember that there are those in your midst who can’t be with family and are lonely. 1 Peter 4:9 says we should offer hospitality to one another. Make sure these people aren’t left alone. Others who have lost loved ones frequently find the holidays to be a depressing time. 1 Thessalonians 4:18 says we should comfort one another. Some people may be unemployed or in financial distress and need a helping hand. Galatians 5:13 says we should serve one another, part of which may be helping to supply their needs. Finally, there are those who are suffering extraordinary stress at this time due to overtaxed schedules, increased demands at work, or any variety of reasons. James 5:16 says we should pray for one another. Let’s not get so self-absorbed over the holidays that we forget to show the love of Christ to others. Build margins of time into your schedule so you can be available.
Helps for People Who Hurt During the Holidays (scroll down in About tab on that page)
- Reach Out to Children: A Good Time to Set Understanding
Prepare your children for understanding the real meaning behind the holidays. Getting gifts quickly tops their list of why they like the holidays. Help them focus their attention on Jesus who came to give, not to take. Help them see Jesus who came to serve and not to be served. Realize, however, that a few well-spoken words during the season will have minimal impact if they are not backed up throughout the year.
Ideas and Resources for Teaching Children about Thanksgiving
Ideas and Resources for Teaching Children about Christmas
- Reach Out to Ministry Leaders, Teachers, & Other Workers: A Good Time to Say Thank You
Prepare to show appreciation to those who labor among you. The holidays can be especially busy for people in ministry. This can therefore be a good time of the year to encourage them, to let teachers, leaders, and other workers know they are valued. Remember, however, that they need affirmation and appreciation throughout the year as well.
In Rom. 12:8-9 it says we should offer comfort to those who sorrow with Christian Cheer and don’t just pretend that you love others. Really Love Them! And in Rom. 12:13 we are to help God’s children in need and even invite them for dinner or to stay overnight if they want to. There are lots of ways to evangelize! We can distribute leaflets about our Church, leaflets about Thanksgiving Dinners or potlucks at our Church and more! We can also take our children out to distribute Christmas leaflets with Christmas trees or other logos on them inviting the unchurched to come to our Christmas Program and Thanksgiving Program. In 2 Cor. 9:11-12 it says God will give you much so that you can give away much and when we take our gifts to those who need them. And in the next verse it says, two good things will happen as a result of your gifts— those in need are helped, and they will overflow with thanks to God!! Children can be told about others who don’t have food to eat and tell them about this fact. I could go on and on but I might not get any sleep! God Bless You and Merry Christmas!! Leonard
Thanks, Leonard, for providing specific ideas for reaching out to others over the holidays. And, yes, there are many other ways. We are primarily limited by our own ceativity and constraints in how we can extend ourselves to others over the holidays. Thanks too for the Bible references of God’s desires for us to reach out to others.