Happy Birthday, Jesus!

by T. C. Pinckney                                                                                       Vol. VII, No. 2, February 1994

Here's an idea that perhaps your church can adopt. Probably every Southern Baptist church has some special Christmas program. And certainly most, possibly all, SBC congregations are appalled at the slaughter of innocent, unborn babies and wish to help with the problem in some tangible way. We also want to help those mothers who make the often difficult decision to carry their child to term, and by doing so show other pregnant women that there are those who care and will help. Think about the following idea.

You may be interested in how the idea developed: Rileyville Baptist Church always has a Christmas program on Christmas day, no matter which day of the week Christmas falls on. (Of course, your church could incorporate the idea regardless of the day you meet for Christmas.) Then some years ago they began taking up an offering (in addition to the Lottie Moon Offering) and giving it to one of the local agencies helping the needy. The third step was that they helped start a crisis pregnancy center. Fourth, Pastor David Johnson received a letter from another crisis pregnancy center regarding a baby shower to help meet some of their needs.

That series of events gave David the idea to have a "Baby Shower for Jesus" during Rileyville's annual Christmas program. They put a cradle in the middle of the sanctuary, and about one-third the way through the service people come forward and place in the crib appropriate gifts that will help the pregnancy center: diapers, clothes, et cetera ... and of course money. The folks at Rileyville have done this for four years, and it is fast becoming a tradition with them.

One of the beauties of this practice is that in a small but significant way it shifts the focus of the Christmas service from one where the congregation comes and is entertained, to one where the people come to do. Christianity is not a passive religion. Nowhere are we commanded to simply sit, but rather to DO: Matthew 7:21 "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven." See also John 9:31 and I John 2:17.

If you have additional questions, you may write to Rev. David Johnson, Rileyville Baptist Church, Route 1, Box 242-B, Rileyville, VA 22650 or call him at 703-743-3003.

May you have a blessed Christmas in 1994 because you have blessed those little ones, the least of these: the babies and their mothers.

Happy Birthday Jesus!