Dottie was
planning a Christmas Party for a group of middle school students. She had carefully packed her family’s
nativity set with the other party supplies. She
unwrapped the figures and began putting them out. The students were all eyes,
but very quiet. She asked if they knew why we started with a barn. All eyes,
but no answers. She explained that this nativity set and others like it were to
tell the story of Jesus' Birth. “If they were tell the story of my birth, they
would start with a hospital,” she said. “But Jesus, was born in barn - so they
start with a barn.”
They knew who Mary was and they identified Baby Jesus, but they didn't seem to know who Joseph was or the shepherds or the wisemen.
So she told them how the shepherds were watching their sheep to make sure they didn't get eaten by wolves or bears and how an Angel appeared and then there was a whole host of Angels - a host with means Army. “How many Angels in an Army?” She asked.
Then she talked about the Wisemen. She let them know that the wisemen and the shepherds were not there at the same time. She told them that there were three gifts, but we don't know how many wisemen.
She reminded them that this was just a picture of events surrounding Jesus' birth.
Dottie recounts, “One girl - so precious and cute - on my right in a pink jacket - answered all my questions when I reviewed the story with them, by holding up each piece of the set and asking the group - who is this? But she answered the questions all using my words and thoughts. No regurgitated church or Sunday school information, leaving me with the impression that this time, she had listened well, but this was the first time she had heard the story.” This entire group of middle school students was simply clueless about the Christmas Story
They knew who Mary was and they identified Baby Jesus, but they didn't seem to know who Joseph was or the shepherds or the wisemen.
So she told them how the shepherds were watching their sheep to make sure they didn't get eaten by wolves or bears and how an Angel appeared and then there was a whole host of Angels - a host with means Army. “How many Angels in an Army?” She asked.
Then she talked about the Wisemen. She let them know that the wisemen and the shepherds were not there at the same time. She told them that there were three gifts, but we don't know how many wisemen.
She reminded them that this was just a picture of events surrounding Jesus' birth.
Dottie recounts, “One girl - so precious and cute - on my right in a pink jacket - answered all my questions when I reviewed the story with them, by holding up each piece of the set and asking the group - who is this? But she answered the questions all using my words and thoughts. No regurgitated church or Sunday school information, leaving me with the impression that this time, she had listened well, but this was the first time she had heard the story.” This entire group of middle school students was simply clueless about the Christmas Story
Dottie is a real person, and this
is a real story. In this secularized
culture, children are growing up without knowing the true meaning of Christmas.
In 2015 Child Evangelism Fellowship®
is launching a nationwide initiative called Christmas
Across AmericaSM.
The
goal is to conduct 5,000 Christmas parties in homes, day cares, housing
projects—anywhere children gather. Through the party theme—“The Ultimate
Christmas”—children will learn the real meaning of this special holiday. If the parties average 20 children
in each club, that will be 100,000 children who hear the real message of
Christmas.
Can
you imagine 100,000 children in the USA hearing for the first time the true
message of Christmas? They are going to find out that Christmas is more than a
chubby guy in a red suit, more than a pretty Christmas tree, more than
beautifully wrapped gifts, more than cookies and milk, more than Christmas
vacation from school, more than traveling to go see grandma. They are going to
hear that Christmas is first and foremost about a loving God who sent His only
Son to be their Savior. They can place their faith in Christ and be born again.
They will hear that Jesus is God's perfect gift to mankind, that Jesus is God in
the flesh. Can you imagine how that message is going to impact 100,000 children
who have never heard it?
Child Evangelism
Fellowship is the
world’s largest ministry dedicated to evangelizing and discipling boys and
girls, and helping to establish them in the local church where they can grow as
disciples of Jesus Christ. With offices
in 192 countries, in 2013 CEF taught
the Bible to over 15 million children worldwide. With 400 offices in the U.S., CEF estimates that they present the
Gospel to over 800, 000 children in the United States every year.
Christmas Across
America is a
special nationwide outreach for the 2015 Christmas season. Additional churches and individuals are
needed who will agree to be trained and screened in compliance with the CEF Child Protection Policy, and host at
least one Ultimate Christmas Party.
Training will be offered in local communities and online. Teachers will receive a FREE Christmas Party
kit which includes the Christmas story with pictures, songs, games, ideas for
how to make the club fun for the children, and handouts for the children to
take home. Children will also receive information which introduces the Truth Chasers Club®, a
ministry of Child Evangelism Fellowship.
The first lesson offers them the opportunity to enroll to receive free age-appropriate
Bible lessons by mail so they can continue to learn about God.
If
you are interested in learning more about Christmas
Across America, or volunteering to host or teach an Ultimate Christmas
Party in your church or neighborhood, go to www.christmasacrossamerica.com.
