A Season of Opportunity: Praying for Christmas Outreaches in Least-Reached Communities

As we prepare to celebrate the birth of Christ, we asked Christar workers to share how they’ve seen God work through Christmas outreaches in the past and what they’re praying for as they prepare for this year. Please join us in praying with them that many least-reached people will experience the joy of knowing our Savior this holiday season!

“Every Christmas Day for over a decade we have partnered with a local South Asian pastor to host a Christmas worship service and serve a catered South Asian meal. We serve in Canada where almost everyone has December 25 off of work, so our Hindu, Sikh and Muslim neighbors are often looking for something to do that day. For many, this is the only time they will go to a church and hear teaching about Jesus. The facts that the message of Jesus is shared in their own languages and that the food is authentic (spicy!) are a testament to the fact that the birth of Jesus is not a Western holiday: It was the event that changed history for every nation.

“It is always a guessing game to know how much food to order from our favorite South Asian restaurant. Last year, we got worried when double the usual number of people showed up. The food had not arrived by the time the meal was supposed to start, so we had to call the restaurant. The owner apologized profusely because he had written down the wrong time to deliver the food. As a way to make amends, he brought huge trays of extra food for free, which turned out to be just the amount needed to feed everyone who came! Jesus still multiplies the loaves and fishes ... even if they happened to taste like curry.

“Pray for many of the unsaved South Asians in our city to come and hear the gospel this Christmas. May God grant saving faith and true transformation in their hearts and families!” – workers serving among South Asians in Canada

“Each year, our family shares a Christmas card with a picture and a verse in Arabic. People love reading these words—the words of Jesus. Please pray for open hearts among those who receive a card, that they would want to know more about His words.” – workers serving in North Africa

“Last year, we had a Christmas party for the Middle Eastern immigrant ladies at our church, which included a meal, dancing and a gospel presentation. Around 60 ladies showed up.

“We also had a Christmas party for about 80 Middle Eastern children with the help of a couple from our church, with games, prizes and a gospel presentation. The women who dropped off their children stayed and were served Arabic coffee as they sat in the back and saw and heard everything that was going on with the children. All this was a result of relationships that have been built up over the years.

“This year, we are planning a party just for young ladies from the Middle Eastern community—those in high school and college. We are also hoping to have several much smaller ladies' parties; instead of holding one big one, we are hoping church people will be willing to host them in their homes. We would do all the planning and work. In addition, we hope to have a Christmas party with those who attend the ESL/Bible study class we hold in our home.

Pray our least-reached neighbors will experience God’s love and be drawn to the gospel through each of these events.” – workers serving in an immigrant Muslim community in Canada

“We’re planning a Christmas party for the students who come to our ESL classes and talking club, which includes speakers of four Central Asian languages. We look forward to a time of music, delicious food, a beautiful craft and games. But most importantly, we are eager to share the story of Jesus’ incarnation in a language closer to each student’s heart. Please join us in praying for wisdom about the languages in which to share the Christmas story as well as in asking Him to provide speaker(s) of these languages who can communicate it clearly.”  – workers serving among Central Asians in the United States

“At this year’s Christmas luncheon there will be a well-known cellist performing, and registrations have already started to come in. We have space for about 100 people. One of the things we love about the luncheon is that it’s an all-hands-on-deck kind of event, and it really gives the church members a chance to work together as the body of Christ.

“The week after the luncheon is the kids’ Christmas party, followed by the candlelight church service (including a kids’ handbell choir performance) the next day. We finish things off with the Christmas Eve Service at the church. All of these events provide an opportunity for those who don’t know the Lord to hear the good news of the gospel.

“Thank you for praying with us that each event will be well-attended and that many people will find new life in Jesus this holiday season. And pray that our team and the Japanese believers would be able to build a relationship with each of these families.” – workers serving in Japan

“We have a Christmas/New Year outreach at our Arabic church. We invite all our contacts, share a meal, share the Christmas story, have some fun family activities, have small gifts for the children and give out materials in Arabic. This is in addition to hosting people in our homes around Christmas and sharing in a more personal way. Pray that, as the Lord has used this to open hearts to the truth, He will continue to draw people to Himself through this outreach.” – workers serving among an immigrant community in the United States

“We have special meals and celebrations. We have been invited to local celebrations and incorporated ideas from them into our observances of Christmas and Resurrection day.

“I also have worked on a 25-day online Advent reading, which has scripture videos and commentary on a text that points to the coming birth of Christ. Pray that God will work as people encounter His Word.” - worker serving in the Middle East

“The refugee outreach where I teach holds an annual Christmas store. Donors are invited to purchase gifts from an Amazon wish list that are delivered to the school. These winter coats, shoes and toys are for our adult students to buy for their kids at hugely discounted prices. We have hundreds of volunteers and refugee shoppers every year. It's great exposure for the volunteers who may have negative views toward immigrants, and it's a practical way to love our students who work so hard in their classes and hear a daily Bible story. Please pray that many of these students will be drawn to Christ as they experience His followers’ care and generosity.” – worker serving among refugees in the United States

Thank you for joining us in prayer for these outreaches and many others like them across the globe! This Christmas, may many least-reached people come to know that “In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him.” (1 John 4:9 ESV)

Responses have been edited for length and clarity.