Big Gift
Churches used the opportunity of the Christmas season to make gifts of time and kindness to bless people in their communities. Ideas such as putting up Christmas decorations, organising a Christmas party, doing some Christmas shopping, giving away minced pies, sending cards an gifts to people in their communities, carol singing, recording a Christmas radio show.
Real Life Story: The Big Shopping Break in Bramhall
A team of volunteers from Bramhall Methodist ran a Big Gift week called: The Big Shopping Break, where they offered vouchers to shoppers for free festive refreshments and an 'oasis' from the hassle of Christmas shopping.
Joyce Curtis takes up the story...
How was the Big Gift week?
Beyond our wildest dreams. God was just so wonderful. The weather forecast each day was RAIN, RAIN AND MORE RAIN. But He just held back those rain clouds as we prayed and the wind calmed. We gave out 370 tokens for free coffee and mince pies and 146 were actually taken up i.e. 146 people went into our coffee shop (many for the first time.) We had some amazing conversations. One person, talking in the coffee shop expressed an interest in coming to Alpha. Another person wanted to know where she could bring her children. etc...
Did you inform the local press and media?
We have a "press officer" (i.e. someone in our church who contacts the News Desks on our behalf ) He came down on Tues morning and took some photos , and then wrote an article to go with it. Radio "Pure" took it up and interviewed our minister on Friday afternoon. It was great.
Altogether an amazing and truly wonderful 4 days. The Lord told us what to do. He built the house so we did not labour in vain. Praise , praise and more glory and praise to our wonderful, awesome God.
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