Bringing Jesus to Christmas

There are two times of year when we as Christians stop all else to behold what Jesus did for us. At Christmas comes the realization that Jesus was the son of God, born to live a sinless life on earth. At Easter we celebrate the defeat of death through the sacrifice of His perfect, sinless life.

The word Christmas originates from the Latin phrase “Cristes Maesse”, first recorded in 1038, which means the Mass of Christ or Christ’s Mass. The term mass is used in Catholic, Orthodox, most Lutheran and some Protestant churches. ‘Mass’ comes from the Latin phrase ‘Ite missa es’ meaning “to send out” or carry the Gospel message.

The Christmas for Refugees programs are foremost about the spiritual aspects of the celebration of the coming of Jesus, sending out the message.

The Christmas for Refugees programs use a variety of means to communicate the Gospel message to displaced children from Christian backgrounds. There are Jesus centered songs, games, puppet shows, skits and even coloring contests of the Nativity.

YES … Children receive food and gifts. The material things they receive vary depending on the area and the need. The Bakka Valley in Lebanon is freezing in winter and there we furnish blankets. In other areas food and hygiene needs are most important. The material things are useful for their current lives, but the message given to them about Jesus is eternal.

Over the past 11 years of the Christmas for Refugees programs I have written often that we invite “Christian children.” The reality is that the children are from a “Christian background” and may or may not have a relationship with the Lord.

In Egypt most children from Christian homes have a cross tattooed on their wrist. The tattoo does not make them true followers of Jesus, it is meant only to prevent kidnappings.

Every Christmas for Refugees program proclaims the birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus. Many children accept Jesus as Lord … Every child leaves with an understanding of what Jesus did for them and why Christmas is about Jesus and not just gifts and food.

The Christmas for Refugees program began to assist Christian refugees from Iraq as the Islamic State expanded. The programs expanded to help Christian refugees from Syria in Jordan and Lebanon. There are programs for internally displaced Christian families in Syria.

In Nigeria the need increases as Islamic terror drives Christian families from homes.

Please pray in advance for our Christmas for Refugees events this year. Pray over the planning and preparation process, and please pray also for the children that will be in attendance.

William J. Murray, President