The word Christmas has nine letters, but it’s message is summarised in nine words we find in Paul’s first letter to Timothy - “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Timothy Ch 1v15). What a wonderful message we have to proclaim to a lost, uncertain and dying world!
In 2001, Brendan O’Brien, Wolfgang Maier and I prayed about the possibility of producing our own evangelistic calendar. We wanted to try and produce a calendar that centred on the Word of God, had gospel content and looked like it was “Made in Ireland”. Our intention was just to have a calendar to give out in the Cork area but interest came from other churches and now around 80 churches distribute them from Donegal to Kerry, Galway to Dublin (and churches in the North too!). By sticking at it over the years, in Youghal our gospel calendars are well received and have proved to be a great way of building relationships with people in the town and surrounding areas. This year, as a church, we were invited to sing carols on the streets (and our son Ben got to present a calendar to the Mayor!). We went to the Community Hospital where we sang carols and gave out calendars to residents, visitors and staff and then on to a Nursing Home to which we had also been invited. We held our first Carol Service this year and were thrilled that over 15 friends and neighbours attended. Some of these people were first met on their doorstep… you got it, receiving a calendar!
Christmas can be a time of loneliness and sorrow as people grieve over a loved one who has died or a son or daughter who has left for Australia. It has been a real privilege to be able to bring God’s Word and, sometimes, have an opportunity for prayer and minister into sad and broken lives. This year for the first time I have been asked to do a “Christmas Message” on the local radio, which has recognised the existence of “Youghal Baptist Church”. Last year at 6pm on Christmas Eve, I found myself at the bedside of a 100 year old believer, getting ready to go to her Saviour. This year, I listened as a regular listener to Reflections spoke of losing her mother, husband and brother in less than a year. A Calendar and other literature were left for her to read in her own home. Please pray for this lady and many like her that the theme of “Forgiveness”, which permeates the pages of this year’s calendar, will permeate their hearts and that God by His Spirit will draw them to a saving knowledge of Himself.
Mervyn Scott (Baptist Missions-Youghal)
* Mervyn supplies the wording for the calendar and Peter Drinan (Drinan Arthouse) supplies the graphics. The calendars are printed by Printbridge www.printbridge.co.uk.