You know, I don’t remember every gift my grandpa ever gave me–but I do remember that he gave great gifts. It’s one of the many reasons I love and miss him.
This is the season of giving, and while it’s easy to get caught up in gifts and lists, the true reason we give isn’t to be remembered, it’s because we were remembered by Jesus. Our opportunity, privilege, and even sacrifice to give is a response to the fact that we’ve already been given so much.
You may remember this verse from our recent reading plan:
“Therefore we ought to support people like these, that we may be fellow workers for the truth.”
– 3 John 8 (ESV)
That verse always fills me with anticipation! Through generosity, I get to go where I can’t go, be what I can’t be, and do what I can’t do–all through partnership with those God has called.
Each year, our Christmas Mission Offering is a special time when we intentionally give beyond ourselves. These gifts don’t pay bills, advance our own projects, or meet our internal needs. Instead, they strengthen the work of the Gospel close to home, far from home, and around the world.
Many of the ministries we support through this offering are partners we walk with all year long, but like many others, they depend on year-end generosity as part of their ministry plan. Your giving ensures they can stay strong and effective in the mission God has given them.
This Christmas, as you think about gifts for those closest to you, I encourage you to also think about the work of God through His church and our mission partners. I know it’s been a challenging year for many, economically and personally, but don’t underestimate what God can do through even the smallest act of obedience. Remember Jesus’ words about the widow’s two coins: she gave more than anyone else that day because her gift came from a heart of gratitude and faith. God can do more with a willing heart than we can with the biggest numbers.
This year’s Christmas Mission Offering will support four key partners:
- The International Mission Board (IMB) — equipping thousands of missionaries to serve in difficult and even dangerous parts of the world.
- The North American Mission Board (NAMB) — planting new churches and strengthening existing ones across our continent.
- Church Forward — partnering with Kansas-Nebraska Southern Baptists to encourage and equip churches in challenging mission fields.
- The Harvester Foundation — helping us plant CrossPoint Churches and invest in the growth and health of rural communities right here at home.
It truly is the most wonderful time of the year–not only because of family, traditions, and a little pause in the pace of life–but because we get to celebrate the first and best gift ever given to a broken world: Jesus.
I pray this season finds you well and blessed. And if that’s true, may it also inspire you to join in giving, so that together we can be part of what God is doing, across the street, across the state, and across the world.