Evangelistic Packing Party Guide. Use your packing party as an opportunity for sharing the Gospel with your neighbors

Transcription

1 Evangelistic Packing Party Guide Use your packing party as an opportunity for sharing the Gospel with your neighbors

2 Dear Friend, As Christians, we have a responsibility to share our faith in Jesus Christ with others. Peter said, Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have (1 Peter 3:15, NIV). When you host an Operation Christmas Child packing party, you ll have a perfect opportunity for sharing the Gospel with your neighbors. Preparing gift boxes for children in need is a great illustration of the gift of salvation that God has prepared for all who are willing to receive it by faith in His Son. John 3:16 instantly comes to life: For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life (NIV). This Evangelistic Packing Party Guide offers ideas that you can use to help you plan a packing party that can change the lives of children overseas and transform the hearts of people from your own neighborhood who hear the Good News. As Christ s disciples in this generation, we are called to Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to all creation (Mark 16:15, NIV). I pray that you will be challenged to reach out to children around the world through Operation Christmas Child and minister to your neighbors in the Name of Jesus Christ. Sincerely, Franklin Graham President, Samaritan s Purse 2

3 PACKING PARTY EVANGELISM home packing party creates a natural atmosphere for sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ with A neighbors and friends. It s easy to talk about God s love when people are packing Operation Christmas Child gift boxes for children in need. These simple shoe box gifts are tangible expressions of the precious gift of salvation that God offers to all through His Son, Jesus Christ. This Evangelistic Packing Party Guide provides some creative ideas and resources that you can use to help turn your packing party into a unique opportunity for sharing the Good News. TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Before the Party 04 Where to Begin: The Big Picture 06 Preparation 07 How Well Do You Know Your Neighbors? 08 How to Make and Deliver Invitations 09 Sample Invitation During the Party 10 Typical Party Schedule 11 Guest Registration Icebreakers 15 The Vision of Operation Christmas Child 16 Packing Tips 17 Sharing Christmas Memories & Traditions 18 Tips for Sharing 20 Closing Prayer After the Party 21 After the Seeds are Planted 3

4 Before the Party WHERE TO BEGIN - THE BIG PICTURE Praying for our neighbors, building friendships with them, and sharing the Gospel are all significant parts of the process we call evangelism. When we realize that evangelism is a process and that the results are up to God, we are free to enjoy the privilege of getting to know our neighbors and playing our part in pointing them to Jesus Christ. The apostle Paul alluded to this process when he said, I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth (1 Corinthians 3:6). The process of helping to lead our neighbors to Christ begins before we actually communicate the life-changing message of the Gospel, and may continue long after we finish. Preparing the Soil: The priority of prayer The best place to begin reaching out to our neighbors is on our knees. Through prayer we can express our dependence upon God to work through us as we share the Gospel and He draws our neighbors to His Son. The apostle Paul expressed this conviction when he wrote, For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified... And my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God (1 Corinthians 2:2,4 NKJV). Planting the Seed: The priority of loving relationships Christian author Joseph Aldrich once wrote, Before we can share the Good News, we must be Good News. A caring relationship with our neighbors helps us fulfill the Great Commandment to love your neighbor as yourself (Galatians 5:14). These friendships can also open doors for us to fulfill the Great Commission, by taking the message of Jesus Christ across the street (through our packing party) and around the world (through the gift boxes we pack and send). It is out of love and concern for our neighbors that we step out in faith and into their lives. Watering the Soil: The post-party follow up As we continue to interact with our neighbors, we water the seeds that we have planted. By praying for them and initiating spiritual conversations, we can help them more clearly understand the Gospel. Celebrating the Harvest: Rejoicing with God over changed lives In Luke 15:3-7, we see that the immediate response of the shepherd was to call together his friends and celebrate that this sheep that was lost had now been found! The passage concludes by saying that when someone comes to know Christ, all of heaven pauses to celebrate the miracle that a person s eternal destiny has been changed! 4

5 Before the Party THE BIG PICTURE continued If you are excited, yet somewhat fearful, about reaching out to your neighbors for Christ, that s normal! Below are some thoughts and Scriptures that have helped other hosts prepare spiritually. Take some time and meditate on the Scriptures that illustrate each point and study them with your co-hosts. Be sure that those involved in hosting the party have a personal relationship with Christ. John 3:1-18 Ephesians 2:8-9 1 John 5:11-13 Be prepared for spiritual battles. Ask others to pray for you as you step out to serve Christ and love the lost. Ephesians 1:18-23; 6:10-20 James 4:7-8 1 John 4:1-6 Ask Christ to take control of your life and empower you for His service. Ephesians 5:18 1 John 5:14-15 Acts 1:8 Be sure that your motive for reaching out to your neighbors is your love for Christ, obedience to His Great Commandment to love your neighbor as you love yourself, and His Great Commission, to make disciples of all nations. 1 John 4: Corinthians 5: John 3:16-18 John 14:21 Matthew 28:

6 Before the Party PREPARATION Practical Matters: Packing Party Materials & Resources Log on to samaritanspurse.org/occ. In the column on the right, look under the Resources category and click on Order Materials. Click again on the Ship to button that applies to you. Here you will find many helpful resources you can order. What to Order Party Packs. Each pack has enough resources for 20 people and includes: A Packing Party Hosting Guide Step by step instructions on how to plan all the components of a successful parking party. Pack Box Brochures A brochure includes five easy packing steps, gift suggestions, box labels, and a donation envelope. Order enough for your group. Videos. You will also want to order the Project Video and Resource DVD. This DVD contains the Power of a Simple Gift video that will help you communicate to your neighbors the vision, mission, and incredible impact Operation Christmas Child is having on children around the world. It also contains many other helpful videos that you may want to use. GO Boxes. If you plan to pack 100 boxes or more at your packing party, you may want to consider purchasing the GO Boxes. They are shipped in cartons of 100 (this is the minimum that you can order). Shipping. With the exception of the GO Boxes, all resources are free and they will be shipped directly to you at no charge. 6

7 Before the Party HOW WELL DO YOU KNOW YOUR NEIGHBORS? Draw a rough sketch of the streets in your neighborhood with a house or rectangle representing each family you are praying for and planning to invite to your packing party. The information will be very helpful as you prepare your invitations and pray for your neighbors before the party. Last name(s) of household First names of each adult in the household First names of children Age of each child My Neighborhood Map John & Joan Smith (Tyler- 4, Julia- 2) 8143 Greenwood Cir. hm Paul & Kathy Simpson (William- 7, Angela- 3) 8141 Greenwood Cir. hm Jay & Jenny Wheeler (Lexi- 11, Rachel- 9) 8145 Greenwood Cir. hm Mary & Paul Walker (Brad- 14, Maddie- 8) 8139 Greenwood Cir. hm Pat & Vicki Johnson (Reese- 11) 8147 Greenwood Cir. hm

8 Before the Party HOW TO MAKE AND DELIVER INVITATIONS Things to Consider: Invite more people than your home can comfortably accommodate. Not everyone will be able to attend. Expect percent to say yes. Take advantage of the directions for making your own invitations (see the sample on page 9). Make sure they are warm and personal. Deliver the invitations yourself with your spouse and children, if possible. Your personal exposure to your neighbors is key. Deliver invitations three or four weeks before the party (minimum). Simply say something like: Hi, my name is Dwight and this is my wife, Betty. We are your neighbors down the street. We want to invite you to join us for a neighborhood Operation Christmas Child packing party on Saturday, November 5 (for example). We will be packing shoe boxes with small gifts that will be distributed to needy children overseas through local churches. It will be a great time to get to know our neighbors. Do you think you will be able to make it? Thank you for considering coming. Delivering the invitations in person will give you the opportunity to meet your neighbors and answer questions they may have about Operation Christmas Child. If people are not at home, leave the invitation in the door in a safe place. Then drop by a few days later or follow up with a phone call to make sure they received the written invitation. Neighbors are sometimes hesitant to make new friends unless they really feel wanted. What to Bring: Decide what items you want your guests to bring with them, such as empty shoe boxes, wrapping paper, filler items, a picture of the family or of the child who is packing each box, a snack to share with the packing party group, and the $7 needed for the shipping of each box. Tell your guests what to bring in your invitation or in a follow-up phone call after your neighbors have given you their R.S.V.P. 8

9 Before the Party SAMPLE INVITATION: JOIN YOUR NEIGHBORS for an Operation Christmas Child Packing Party Have some fun and make new friends as we pack gift boxes for some of the neediest children in the world Saturday, November 5 The Ryans (#7 Maple Trail) 7:00-9:30 p.m. Hosted by Jerry and Jeanne Ryan RSVP What to bring: a snack, wrapping paper, empty shoe box to fill. Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these (Matthew 19:14, NIV) 9

10 TYPICAL PARTY SCHEDULE Greeting, Mingling and Eating (30 minutes) The excitement begins when the doorbell rings, so have a time of prayer with your co-hosts 30 minutes beforehand. You as the host or hostess should greet your guests, direct them to the guest registration table, show them where they can drop off their food, and help themselves to the food provided. At the same time your guests are filling out their name tags, have one of your co-hosts place one of the Who or What Am I? stickers on their back (see directions for this game and others below). Play any combination of the Icebreaker Games (10 minutes). Everyone will have fun getting to know their neighbors. Welcome and Introduction of the Evening (10 minutes with an OCC video clip) Take a little time to give everyone a warm welcome to your packing party. Thank them for joining you to help bring joy and hope to children in need. This is a great time to show the video clip by Franklin Graham The Power of a Simple Gift, explaining what Operation Christmas Child is all about (order online at samaritanspurse.org/occ). Packing the Boxes (60 minutes) Many of the children who receive gift boxes have forgotten what it feels like to experience hope and joy. These gifts may be the first they have received in a long time or ever! Sharing Christmas Memories and Traditons Sharing Christmas Memories is a great way to get to know your neighbors and provides an easy transition for sharing the Gospel. Sharing the Greatest Gift of All (20 minutes) There are many ways to share the message of the Gospel. Prayerfully seek God s direction for your party. God will enable you to be bold about your faith in Christ and be sensitive to what is proper at this time. End your packing party with prayer. 10

11 GUEST REGISTRATION Set up a table near the front door. Ask guests to help you create a neighborhood directory by writing their names (including children and ages), address, phone number, and address. Name Tags How do you get people to talk about something other than the weather? These name tags are guaranteed to spark conversation! They encourage people to share information that they might not otherwise volunteer. Ask each guest to interview three neighbors as they mingle. Also have each guest explain their name tag as an introduction during the sharing time. In each of the tag s corners, ask guests to write the following: Corner #1 Corner #2 Corner #3 Corner #4 Hometown Career or Job Childhood Hero Hobby Have a sample name tag at the table where guests will sign in. Provide thin-tipped felt pens (to write small in the corners); and thick-tip pens to write the name in large print. Perhaps someone with neat block printing skills can be stationed at the guest book table to write the information on each person s tag. 11

12 ICEBREAKERS Mix & Mingle Games You can hold your packing party at any time throughout the year. Some people have a Christmas in July party; others try to hold their party in the fall to have boxes packed and ready for National Collection Week in mid-november. Another option is to make your party a Christmas event, preparing gift boxes for children at a time when Christians around the world are focusing their thoughts on the birth of Jesus Christ, God s greatest gift to all mankind. No matter when you hold your packing party, icebreaker activities with a Christmas theme are always fun and they fit right in with the Operation Christmas Child gift box concept. Who or What Am I? Play this game as guests begin to arrive. Below are suggestions for words with a Christmas theme to use. Write these on self-stick labels before the party and put them on people s backs after they have received their nametags. You may ask one person only three questions at a time. You must ask questions that can only be answered by yes or no. For example, Am I a Christmas animal? Am I a Christmas carol? Do I hang on a tree? The winner is the one who guesses who they are first. You may have second- and third-place winners if you wish, depending on how long you want to play the game. Ornament Christmas Carol Wise Men Shepherd Manger Star Gifts Baby Jesus Christmas Tree Silent Night Angel Candy Cane Peace on Earth 12

13 ICEBREAKERS Christmas Carol Quiz Make copies of this master for each group of four or five people you plan to invite. Groups use the following clues to guess the Christmas song titles. The first group to correctly complete the titles wins! 01 A quiet evening 02 Happiness on earth 03 One letter missing from alphabet 04 A running event through thick white stuff 05 Small town in ancient Israel 06 Us two, plus one male crowned rulers 07 It arrived at 12 p.m. uncluttered 08 Far off in a barn 09 Hallowed evening 10 A certain bird in a tree Answers to Christmas Carol Quiz 01 Silent Night 02 Joy to the World 03 Noel 04 Dashing Through the Snow 05 Little Town of Bethlehem 06 We Three Kings 07 It Came Upon a Midnight Clear 08 Away in a Manger 09 Holy Night 10 Partridge in a Pear Tree 13

14 ICEBREAKERS Christmas Pictionary Prepare in advance: Gather a large pad of paper and pens or pencils. Write down all the Christmas or seasonal items to be drawn on 3-by-5 cards. Decide on a few places in your home where groups can gather, preferably where it is easy to draw and the team can see. Divide the group into teams of four to seven people (depending on the size of the crowd). Form teams by counting off: women versus men or a clever neighborly way (i.e., odd house numbers versus even). One person from each team is assigned to be the artist for that round; you show that person the clue. At the word, Go! groups race to guess first what Christmas article is being drawn. The winning group gets a point. The first team to ten points wins. Obviously, you as host should not play, but give the clues and referee. Ornament Caroling Nutcracker Tinsel Snow Angel Shepherd Wise Men Manger Jesus 14

15 THE VISION OF OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD After your guests have mingled and gotten to know each other through the icebreaker games, take a few minutes to share the vision of Operation Christmas Child and tell them why you organized a neighborhood packing party. Explain that working in partnership with local churches around the world, Operation Christmas Child brings hope and joy to millions of children victimized by war, poverty, disease, and despair by distributing gift-filled shoe boxes in the Name of Jesus Christ. Children who may have never received a gift in their lives experience God s love, hear the Gospel, and have an opportunity to enroll in a 12-lesson Bible study program called The Greatest Journey. Since 1993, more than 92 million gift boxes have been distributed to children in 151 nations. Show Franklin Graham s video clip, The Power of a Simple Gift, to help reinforce the vision of Operation Christmas Child and its place under the larger vision of Samaritan s Purse. End with a prayer that God will use your groups gift boxes to touch the hearts of children in need around the world. 15

16 PACKING TIPS Filling gift boxes for children in need is a fun-filled activity that brings people together behind a common goal. People naturally begin to talk and share as they pack gift boxes, opening doors for new friendships and creating opportunities for sharing the Gospel. Play some quiet music in the background and have snacks and soft drinks on hand to help create a festive atmosphere. For the packing party area, you will need space for an item assembly line, letter writing, and completed boxes. Prepare empty containers labeled for the attendees to place items that you may have asked them to bring to the party. Give the group instructions on filling the boxes at the shoe box assembly line. You may want to designate people (or ask for volunteers) to gift wrap shoe boxes (lid separately) or man different stations along the assembly line; some in charge of packing school supplies, others adding stuffed animals, small toys, hygiene items, clothing, and other filler items. As an example, take an empty shoe box and walk it through the line, packing it with gifts until you have a completed box when you reach the end of the line. When all of the boxes are packed, everyone can share in the success of a job well done, and hearts will be open to learning more about God s love as you focus on sharing the Gospel. Hand out the prayer cards from your Party Pack and ask everyone to continue to pray for Operation Christmas Child throughout the year. Pray! As the group packs and prepares the gift boxes, pray that God will prepare the hearts of your unsaved guests to be receptive to Gospel. Pray that they will be receptive to hear about how God loved us so much that He gave His Son, the greatest gift ever given, to meet the greatest need that we will ever have the need for grace and forgiveness through Jesus Christ! 16

17 SHARING CHRISTMAS MEMORIES & TRADITIONS Tips for Sharing Christmas Memories & Traditions Enjoy this time! This will be one of the highlights of the evening! You will learn more about your neighbors in the next 20 minutes than you ever imagined. 1. We suggest you open the time by calling everyone together in one room and saying something like: The gift boxes that you have just packed will have a profound impact on the children who receive them. For many of these children, this gift may be the only one that they have ever received. They will remember this Christmas gift for the rest of their lives. I thought that we could take a few minutes to get to know each other better by sharing about one of our favorite Christmas memories, gifts or traditions. Let s take turns sharing on any one of three topics: What is a favorite or most humorous childhood Christmas memory or gift? What are some of your favorite Christmas traditions you have kept over the years? Or how has the meaning of Christmas changed or deepened for you over the years? Begin by telling us your name and the answers from the four corners of your nametag. To give you all time to collect your thoughts, will begin. 2. As a host, you will set the tone for the level of sharing desired. You should be somewhat vulnerable, humorous, interesting or nostalgic. A spouse or a co-host should begin with something on the lighter side. Do not begin with a spiritual memory, as it may make some people uncomfortable. They may feel they have to share something spiritual as well. 17

18 TIPS FOR SHARING THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST Now that your guests have had the opportunity to share about a favorite Christmas memory or tradition, you will have an opportunity to communicate how the packing of shoe box gifts has become one of your favorite Christmas traditions. Let them see the joy and happiness that this event brings you! Remember that God s power shows up best in weak people. Consider the words of the apostle Paul in I Corinthians 2:1-5: And when I came to you brethren, I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God. For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling. And my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God (NASB). Begin by communicating to your neighbors that Operation Christmas Child seeks to bring hope and joy into the life of a child through the shoe box gift, but it doesn t end there. Operation Christmas Child has worked with the local churches in over 150 countries to make sure that children know that long after the candy is gone and the toys have worn out, God loves them, has not forgotten about them and longs for them to be His children. We share with them a very simple, but profound message of hope, a message that you have probably heard before: John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life For God so loved the world - God s love for a child is demonstrated through a shoe box gift that we give, but the greatest demonstration of His love for them is the gift of His Son. The Bible tells us that, God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8, NIV). We want each child to know that God loves them so much that he was willing to sacrifice His own Son so that they could become His Child. This is the reason 2. that He gave His only begotten Son God s Word tells us that He gave His Son for us because we all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23, NIV) and the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 6:23, NIV). God knew that either we would have to pay for our sins by being separated from Him for eternity or He could send His own Son to die in our place. Jesus was punished for our sins so that we would not have to be! This is the Good News that we share with them so

19 TIPS FOR SHARING THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST 3. that whoever believes in Him shall not perish - The Bible tells us that we must believe in Christ in order to become a child of God. John 1:12 tells us that, yet to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave them the right to become children of God. Jesus said in John 14:6, I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. God desires for all of these dear children to not be separated from Him 4. but have eternal life. - God knows each child, loves them dearly and longs to have a relationship with them that will last for eternity. God offers them the gift of forgiveness and eternal life, but just like the shoe box gift that we offer each child, they must reach out and receive it to make it our own. In Revelation 3:20, Jesus makes an invitation for all of us to receive Him and the gift of eternal life. He says, Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in. We give each child the opportunity to receive God s greatest gift, Jesus Christ, by praying a simple prayer. Through prayer, they can open the door of their lives and invite Jesus in to forgive them of their sins, guide them through life, and live for eternity with Him. This message of hope and of God s love is the Good News that we bring to children around the world. We also offer The Greatest Journey Bible study course for any children who are interested in learning more or want to grow in their relationship with God. Sharing a Testimony - Consider taking just a few minutes to have a packing party co-host or a spouse describe how he or she heard about what Christ has done for them, what circumstances or details in their life motivated them to respond to the Gospel, and how they responded to Jesus knocking at the door of their life. They can also share about how God has touched and changed their life as a result. 19

20 CLOSING PRAYER Closing the Evening with Prayer As you close the evening it will be important that you give your neighbors an opportunity to respond to the Gospel message they have heard by seeking forgiveness through faith in Jesus Christ. You don t have to be eloquent. Just speak from your heart and let the Holy Spirit use your words to prepare the hearts of others to receive Jesus. Example: I d like to take a moment to thank God for the fun we ve had together this evening. I would also like to give you the same opportunity that we give the children who recieve the shoe box gifts the opportunity to receive God s greatest gift of all, Jesus Christ. As I close our time in prayer, if you would like to prepare room in your heart for Christ, and invite Him into your life to forgive your sins and give you eternal life, just pray silently as I pray out loud. Dear heavenly Father, I want to thank You for all these wonderful friends and the fun we have shared tonight. As the Christmas celebration approaches, help us to remember the gift of your Son, who you sent to bring joy to the world and forgiveness and eternal life to those who would accept Him. Father, I pray that if there is anyone here tonight who has never accepted the gift of your Son, that they would pray this prayer with me. Dear Jesus, thank you for the incredible gift of forgiveness and eternal life that you offer me because you died on the cross for my sins. Right now, I accept that gift and open the door of my life and receive you as my Savior and Lord. Please come into my life to forgive me of my sins, to give me eternal life and to begin making me into the person you created me to be. In Jesus Name. Amen. Ending the Party Thank your neighbors for coming to the packing party. Encourage them to learn more about Samaritan s Purse and Operation Christmas Child by going online to occ. You should also invite people to linger for a while and have a last cookie or a cup of coffee. A short after-party time together could provide an opportunity for someone who accepted Christ or who is drawing near to Him to ask questions and and learn more about what it means to be born again. 20

21 After the Party AFTER THE SEEDS ARE PLANTED Thank the Lord Get together with your Christian co-hosts. In a time of prayer, thank God for all He has done and rejoice together. Pray that God will take the seeds of the Gospel that were sown and plant them deeply in the lives of your neighbors (see Matthew 13:18-23). Challenge your co-hosts to have their own party this year or next year, now that they have seen a party modeled. Staying Connected: Continue the relationships you started with your neighbors by personally thanking them for joining your packing party. A personal visit at the door or a quick phone call is enough to let your neighbors know that you care. Depending on the situation, you might ask your neighbors if they have any prayer requests to share, or invite them to come to your church or a home Bible study. Even if your neighbors do not become Christians immediately, don t be discouraged. Remember that evangelism is a process, and your commitment to continue to love, pray for, and be a friend to your neighbors is crucial. Author Joseph Aldrich, in his book Gentle Persuasion notes, More than 80 percent of those who trust Christ and remain members of a local church are led to the Lord by a friend. Helping Your Neighbors Become Grounded in Their Faith Jesus said, Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations (Matthew 28:19). Discipleship is a process. Our commitment to friends involves not only leading them to Christ, but helping them to build a solid spiritual foundation. Here are a few ideas that can help you make friends and make disciples at the same time. Consider leading your own small group Bible study for your friends and neighbors who come to know Christ or simply need to grow in their understanding of the basic principles of their faith. Help your neighbor get involved in a Bible-based church, if they are not already attending one. Most important of all, be a friend. The more your neighbor sees Christ in you, the greater the impact you can have on their lives as you help make disciples and fulfill the call of the Great Commission. 21