With Europe’s Christian history, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that Christmas traditions reflecting the birth of Jesus can still be spotted. Even so, how many Europeans fully and truly grasp the meaning behind this holiday?
As shop windows display nativity scenes and cultural traditions may include attending church, the door to Gospel conversations has already been cracked open. Global workers who have invested their time building relationships and serving their communities throughout the year are uniquely positioned to open these doors further.
The Gift of Time
One way we can show love to our neighbours is simply by gifting them our time. With Christmas being a notoriously busy season, sharing treasured moments with a neighbour can make a heart-felt impact.
“Last year we invited a couple of Iranian students to our house to decorate cookies,” Nick Scholl, a GEM worker in Italy, shares. “They loved the experience! We got to share why we’re here and what we believe while having a fun time decorating.”
Realizing the opportunity, Nick continues, “This year, we are again opening our home to two Italian couples and their children to do the same.”
Phil Gottschalk, who serves in Romania, is also using the gift of time to reach others. “We’ll be having an evangelistic Bible study with a couple who are refugees from Bucha, Ukraine.” This, in addition to a Christmas service and meal outreach his church will be hosting on December 22nd, are just some of the ways Phil will be spreading the Gospel this Christmas season.
The Gift of Generosity
Another way of showing love is by giving a physical gift. Giving a gift means that you’ve thought intentionally of the other person, and that they are deserving of your resources.
“Each year [for Christmas] we give our neighbours a small gift, message of encouragement, and verses of Scripture that focus on the Reason for the Season,” Dwight Poggemiller, serving in Romania, shares. “In this way, we have touched over 250 households in our neighbourhood with the message of Christmas, and it has opened a number of Gospel conversations!”
Nick Scholl’s family also sees the value in reaching their neighbours through gift-giving.
“For the last three years, we have used the Christmas season as an excuse to bake cookies and American desserts for people and families we know in the neighbourhood,” he says.
The Gift of Christmas
For non-Europeans who left their passport countries for a new life in Europe, the idea of Christmas may be altogether foreign. Doors are open to reveal the reason for the festive decor they see and the merriment in the air.
“One of the challenges, that is also an opportunity, is the fact that Muslim background believers (MBB’s) don’t have any cultural practices tied to Christmas,” Roy Nagelkirk, a worker in France, starts.
“We decided as a team to invite them to a Christmas celebration in our home. The central part of our time together is going through the Christmas story using an advent wreath with candles and the verses that go through the various aspects of the story, and of course eating, praying, singing Christmas carols, and even playing some games together.”
Roy adds that it has been almost 20 years of celebrating Christmas this way for a number of his MBB friends and their children.
Praise God for these open doors to share the Gospel! As we approach Christmas this year, let’s remember to keep our brothers and sisters overseas in our prayers as they reach their neighbours for Christ. And let’s not forget to share some love to our own neighbours while we’re at it. Open doors to Gospel conversations are everywhere! How will you love your neighbours this holiday season?
