4 November, 2024

Cross-Cultural Christmas

Features

by | 31 October, 2024 | 0 comments

By Jeff Coon

I was in a mountain village with a Fellowship of Associates of Medical Evangelism (FAME) partner physician when a couple came up to us shouting, “Thank you! Thank you for saving Alliya!” The man turned to me, and in broken English slowly said, “And now we know Jesus!” 

They explained that just before Christmas last year, their daughter had gone to pick fruit as a special treat for their traditional Christmas meal. While attempting to reach a piece of fruit, she fell from the tree and severely broke her arm. The father explained that other children in their village had experienced similar accidents and were left permanently disabled. As a result, many were unable to work, were not considered marriageable, and were placed at risk for trafficking. 

But that was not the case for Alliya, because this doctor had set up a medical clinic in their village. He was able to set her broken bones and put her on a path to full recovery. During the care and follow-up, the family was introduced to Jesus. They are now an active part of the new church that was planted in that area. Alliya’s accident and subsequent care are what drew this family to Christ. 

Drawing People to Jesus 

The Christmas story is marked by events that drew people to Jesus Christ in unexpected ways and in unexpected places. 

In Matthew’s account, the unexpecting people were wisemen and the unexpected event was the appearance of a star: “Wisemen from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, ‘Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star at its rising and have come to worship him.’” (2:1-2, Christian Standard Bible)  

Stories from around the world of unexpected events that have drawn people to Christ fill my email inbox. In the course of FAME’s 50-plus years of mission work, we have confirmed that a lack of access to medical care often leads to a lack of access to the gospel. But when that medical care is made available, unexpected events routinely draw people to Christ. 

In a remote village in the foothills of the Himalayan mountains, 15-year-old Anyi became seriously ill while her parents were in the mountains harvesting cardamon for Christmas customers. When a young minister and his wife, a nurse, checked in on her and discovered her condition, they drove her 17 hours by car to the nearest hospital. Their unexpected and treacherous trip led FAME and other partners to provide an ambulance for the village as they carried out their plans to build a clinic in their community. Because of their care for her and others in this remote village, the church is growing rapidly!. 

The Global Message of Christmas 

Patrick grew up in an African family of idol worshipers who sacrificed animals to “cleanse” themselves from any offenses against their god. He visited a FAME partner clinic because of a serious illness that required surgery. Following his surgery, a FAME staff member brought up the topic of Christmas. Patrick knew little about it, so they explained that God sent his Son as a baby to grow up as a man and die on a cross, a once-for-all sacrifice for sin. The staff member asked Patrick how many times his family would need to sacrifice to an idol to have all their sins forgiven. Patrick had no idea, but he was certain it would be many! When he understood that Jesus paid the ultimate price for his sins, Patrick chose to follow Christ. Since then, he has influenced many people in his family and tribe to abandon idol worship. Today Christmas has real meaning to Patrick and his family because of an unexpected event that drew them to the Christ child. 

Vilya has a similar story. She was expecting her first child when she and her husband came to a newly opened FAME mother/child clinic on Christmas Eve, ready to give birth. Following the arrival of their son, the hospital chaplain asked what they thought of their son sharing his birthday with Jesus. They didn’t know who Jesus was. The chaplain learned that they celebrated Christmas by giving and receiving gifts, but had no idea about the gift of life that could only be found in Jesus. They didn’t know why they celebrated Christmas. They began attending church as they sought to learn more about this baby Jesus who shared a birthday with their son. This unexpected event drew them to the Christ child. 

“. . . Along with Persecutions” 

Matthew records that King Herod “was deeply disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him,” when the wisemen came to him seeking the Christ child. “So, he assembled all the chief priests and scribes of the people and asked them where the Christ would be born” (Matthew 2:3-4). 

Matthew’s account shows how civic and religious leaders have taken notice of unexpected events that drew people to Christ. This can happen today as well. Sometimes the results are positive and sometimes negative. While government and tribal leaders regularly express gratitude for FAME’s global partners and the help they give to their communities, persecutions have also resulted from people being drawn to Christ. For example, a hospital in the Manipur district of India was burned to the ground because the staff helped suffering people in Jesus’ name. In another situation, the groundbreaking of a church and clinic in another region of India was halted by religious and government officials because radical religious leaders were threatened by the advance of the gospel. 

Celebrating Love and Hope 

In the past year, more than two million people around the world have received medical treatment and have been introduced to Christ by FAME’s global partners. Add to this the multitude of mission and ministry works that have been carried out by our churches and missionaries throughout the year. It changes our perspective to look beyond our own nation and to see how the name of Christ is being honored around the world. 

One way for American Christians to gain a broader understanding of the far-reaching impact of the gospel is to read accounts of global mission work. I have been reading such stories for 50 years. In my role with FAME, I have the privilege of sharing those stories weekly with our ministry partners. 

I encourage individuals and churches who want to align themselves more closely to the worldwide work of the church to actively seek out global partners. Ask yourself, “What needs do I feel deeply burdened by and what needs do I want to see met around the world?  What issues have brought me to tears or caused me to ‘pound the table’?” Your answers to these questions can help you discover and build new partnerships. 

Christmas is a time to reflect on things that matter. Perhaps you’ll take time this season to connect with new ministry partners. The Great Commission is a priority for every disciple of Christ, but many of us feel inadequate to fulfill it alone. Forming partnerships with international mission organizations is one way to accomplish Christ’s commission! You may reach several people for Christ on your own, but in partnerships you can reach millions. 

As Moses led the vast nation of Israel in the wilderness, his father-in-law came to visit and noticed how he met continually with the people to serve as judge and to settle disputes. Jethro said to Moses, “What you are doing is not good . . . . The work is too heavy for you. You cannot do  it alone” (Exodus 18:17-18). Jethro challenged Moses to distribute the workload and bring on partners to accomplish the task. 

You can do a similar thing this Christmas season. Find a ministry or mission that serves people in ways that draw them to the Christ child, and partner with them in their work. 

There are many such missions and ministries. FAME’s global partners focus on medical evangelism, while others focus on ministry to orphans and widows, food and clothing distribution, freedom from trafficking, Bible translation, disaster response, and providing clean water.  

Search them out. Subscribe to their newsletters. Pray for them and look for tangible ways to serve with and support them. In this way you will increase your personal impact, bless and strengthen ministry partners, and bring hope this Christmas that transcends cultural barriers.  

Like the wisemen, people around the world are experiencing unexpected events. Maybe you can be a partner in evangelism with a global work that will meet their needs and open the door for them to be drawn to the Christ child.  

Jeff Coon is director of development for FAME (www.fameworld.org) in Indianapolis, Indiana. 

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