Gifts figure prominently in American Christmas – buying them, giving them, and getting them. In fact, the latest trend includes buying Christmas gifts for yourself. As Christians, we know there is more to the celebration than gifts. And yet it’s difficult to set all of the gift-giving aside.
This year Christ Church has joined an effort to “turn Christmas upside down.” (We even have upside down Christmas trees in the lobbies of both campuses). The Advent Conspiracy is centered around four tenets: worship fully, spend less, give more, love all. The idea is simple: to help us worship God fully this Christmas, let’s spend less on gifts so that we can give more to those in need as a way of sharing Christ’s love with everyone.
Our goal as a church is to direct funds to the village of Kuve, Ghana through International Needs Ghana (ING). We’re hoping to give enough to construct and furnish a junior high school, build a library and computer lab, support two church planters and improve the water system. All of this will cost approximately $124,000.
So here is the challenge: give more of yourself (more presence) to those you love, but fewer presents. Redirect the funds you save to those with real needs. ING is a perfect example.
Let’s turn Christmas upside down, and throw the kind of party Jesus would be excited to attend.
*If you are interested in more information on other creative ways to give this Christmas, check out this article called, “Should I Give a Cow or Cash for Christmas?“