My good friend Everett Teller serves a Navajo congregation at Tsaile AZ. At Christmastime, when many churches begin to think about enjoying the warmth of family (and church family), Everett’s congregation thinks about evangelism. They see Christmas as a prime time to not only place Christ front and center, but to actually invite people to give their hearts to Jesus. Christmas parties, opening presents, family gatherings, do not take precedence over kingdom work. My congregation at Landisville yesterday sent Christmas gifts for 51 children of their community. Next week, as Christmas approaches, the people at the Tsaile Church will be traveling around the Rez, visiting homes, bringing the gifts, and talking to people about their relationship with Jesus Christ and the church.

I don’t think this is simply a "Navajo" thing. I think this is a kingdom thing. Research shows us that Christmas is a time when many people are drawn towards Christ and the message. It is also, ironically, often a time of crisis, when the stress fractures of loneliness, emptiness, frustrated dreams provoke a lot of soul searching. What better time for the Spirit to work?

The question is, is your church thinking not simply about the Christmas story but the personal responsibility to help people find faith in Jesus Christ (and not put it on hold until January).