‘Forgotten Christmas’ Campaign Aims to Help Christians Rediscover True Meaning of Season
Posted by Everyday Christian Staff
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At 4:29 pm on October 17, 2012
Free resources for pastors to help their churches remember the true meaning of Christmas and rediscover the gospel’s true message of reaching and caring for “the least of these” are now available from “Forgotten Christmas”--a campaign sponsored by the Carrollton, Texas-based mission organization, Gospel for Asia.
“The meaning of Christmas in the West unfortunately has been lost in so much materialism every year, even by Christians,” said K. P. Yohannan, founder and president of Gospel for Asia.“Forgotten Christmas is helping Christ-followers remember the priceless gift of the gospel and ‘the least of these,’ who have yet to hear it or have newly welcomed it.”
Forgotten Christmas is especially committed to caring for “the least of these” in South Asia, a particularly overlooked region, Yohannan said.
The free annual video helps pastors raise awareness about the consumerism that is smothering the true spirit of the holiday. Pastors can use the video in their sermons or programming to help refocus their congregations’ perspective.
According to Gospel for Asia, more than $500 billion was spent last year on Christmas. If one percent of that spending was redirected, it could provide a bible for every person around the world, clean water for everybody in India, Sri Lanka and Nepal, or 400,000 church buildings for needy congregations in the third world.
Free gift catalogs also give Christians a variety of giving opportunities, including purchasing sewing machines and livestock and supporting literacy education in needy areas. Pastors can distribute these catalogs to help their churches take the next step in recapturing the true meaning of Christmas. One hundred percent of funds sent through the catalog go to help those in need and to mission work. Not one cent is used for administrative expenses in the West.
Gospel for Asia started the Forgotten Christmas campaign in 2010. Since its founding in 1978, Gospel for Asia GFA plants 14 fellowships a day and supports thousands of mission workers and assemblies among these forgotten groups. Thousands of young men and women -- natives of the countries they will serve – are undergoing training for mission work at 67 GFA-supported Bible colleges throughout the region.
Tags: Christmas, Forgotten Christmas, giving, Gospel for Asia
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