Jesus is the Reason for the Season
This Christmas season, Christians across the United States celebrated Christ's birth in ways that honored God and helped others.
This Christmas season, Christians across the United States celebrated Christ's birth in ways that honored God and helped others.
Local churches held service events, fed the homeless at outreaches, or held toy drives for needy children across the country, wishing to reveal the Christmas spirit.
Christians want to celebrate the birth of Christ, said Debby Heinbaugh from Charleston, Ill. Her community-wide celebration of Christ's birth attracted hundreds of local townspeople.
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“The meaning of Christmas has been lost on a lot of people," she stated.
According to a Focus on the Family poll of 847 pastors, seven percent of churches were not open this Christmas and news agencies reported that the churches often cited family obligations as the reason.
On the flip side, the poll also cited that 92 percent of respondents did keep their church's doors open on Christmas.
One open church was Seattle International Church, headed by Bishop Ray Hampton III. During the Christmas Service which included a toy drive, he said, "I'm glad we're gonna give away toys, but the focus is Jesus Christ. This is not about gifts, but the giver of gifts."
This church, among many other churches, had partnered with large ministries to distribute the Christmas spirit along with hundreds of thousands of gifts to the nation's neediest children.
The Seattle church bustled on Christmas Day as the distribution site of up to 5,000 toys for Toys for Tots.
Outreach to the homeless also spelled grace for both giver and receiver. Small and large organizations alike took part in giving to people who need it most.
For example, Covenant House is the nation's largest home for the youth, and houses up to 750,000 youths each year, picking them off the streets even on Christmas day.
Meanwhile, two-year-old City Tribe Church in Elizabeth, N.J., distributed scarves, hats, and gloves, along with refreshments to the homeless people in its community, this Christmas.
Co-Pastor Karen Yuschak was amazed at the appreciation they have for such small pieces of grace.
“Even the Christmas card is a gift for them," she said. "Something so little can mean so much..."
A 2005 Fox News/Opinion Dynamics poll confirmed that 95 percent of Americans celebrate Christmas, and 90 percent of Americans recognize Christmas as the birthday of Jesus Christ (Gallup, 2000).
Shekinah Glory Full Gospel Ministry in Jacksonville, N.C., was among the many churches that held service on Christmas, which also fell on a Sunday this year.
Ann Fulcher, pastor of the church, told the local newspaper the Daily News she never considered canceling services.
"Whether the attendance is high or low, Jesus is the reason for the season," she said.
