Christian Outreach Through Christmas Cards

Christmas is a time when we can all witness for Christ. One way we can do this is by sending Christmas cards to relatives, friends, neighbors and others. Christ-centered Christmas cards can lift people’s hearts and remind them of the true meaning of Christmas—the birth of our Savior.
A faithful and efficient secretary had set aside the afternoon for addressing Christmas cards for her boss. On her desk were two stacks—one religious and one general. After addressing a dozen or more greetings, she approached her boss with the question: “Which kind of card should I send to Mr. Jones?” After a long moment of thinking about it, the man behind the large desk replied: “He’s a new client, and I don’t know much about him. Better send him the ‘general Christmas.’” So, instead of getting the warm greeting: “May the Christ of Christmas bless you!”, Mr. Jones received the Christ-less message, “Holiday Greetings!” Mr. Jones, no matter who he was, needed the intercessory prayer of his friend at Christmas: “May the Christ of Christmas bless you!”
We can let our light shine (Matthew 5:16) by sending cards with a Christian message, or by adding a Christian message to ones that have none, or by including in our Christmas letters a message about what Christmas means to us. Even though most of the people to whom we send cards may already be believers in Jesus, we are still witnessing our faith in Christ to others with a Christmas message included. A Christian bookstore, such as our Bethany Lutheran College Bookstore, would be a good place to find Christ-centered Christmas cards.
Tosten D. Skaaland is pastor of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Elderon, Wisconsin.