This is the 13th in a series of articles from New Hope authors this month on the theme Celebrating Christmas in a World of Need.

by Kimberly Sowell

It looked like the twinkling landscape of any major American city square readied for Christmas. But we were far from home. We were in Japan.

I was standing on a corner of Fukuoka with my daughter, a friend and her daughter, and our male teammate as we beckoned people to come talk with us about the true meaning of Christmas. The dazzling display of Christmas lights was breathtaking, but those lightbulbs seemed dim in comparison to the light of Christ that was shining through my daughter. I stood back with tears in my eyes as my 9-year-old told a woman that Jesus is the King of kings and He means everything to her. She was sharing Jesus with a world in need.

God at Work

This was a missions trip like no other. Our method for spreading the good news was to work with our resident missionary to share the gospel on the city streets and to do several Christmas parties around the city. God opened the door for 10 Christmas parties, and God brought more than 300 moms, children, senior citizens, and college students to hear the true meaning of Christmas and the story of why Jesus came.

One woman said, “I saw a picture of Jesus dying on the Cross, and it always made me feel sad. But now I know that Jesus came to save the whole world.” Wow!

Another woman came to a party and asked if she could come again the next day; the story of Jesus impressed her and she wanted to hear it again. One lady asked about prayer, another person asked to hear a testimony . . . God was at work.

At Christmas and throughout the year, the world needs to hear that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world (1 John 4:14). How will God use you? Share that Christmas cheer!

Editor’s note: You also may be interested in listening to a podcast next week with Kimberly on the subject of world evangelization. Scheduled to be posted on December 29, 2011.

Kimberly Sowell is founder and president of Kingdom Heart Ministries. She is also a regular voice on New Hope Digital. Her most recent works include Soul Shaping, Women of the Covenant, and A Passion for Purpose.