Christmas Day - A Day For Sharing the Message About Jesus Christ

Christmas Day

Christmas day for 2018 in India was probably one of the most unique and rewarding Christmas days we have ever had.

Our typical Christmas day would have been been filled with family, presents, Christmas feasting and relaxation. All of these are wonderful things that we missed dearly. But this Christmas day was different.

Thanks to our family for these boots! They will get some use when the rainy season arrives. And thanks to them for the Christmas nativity on the table.

The young missionaries had scheduled Christmas devotionals at the church; 10:00 am and 6:00 pm. They put up a "Light the World" banner out on the wall in front of the church. They asked us to attend.

When we arrived we noticed several people already sitting in the chapel. We noticed one or two members but mostly people we had never seen before. We shook hands with everyone then chose to sit next to one of the visitors that we had never seen before. Before the devotional began, I talked with this man that came with his sister. He was from northern India. He had come to Bengaluru as a computer science engineer because their are many jobs available here. He was missing his family who were too far away to visit during his short break. He came to our church to find God and comfort to fill his needy heart.

We later found out that many people in India like to go attend a Christian church on Christmas day.

They called on Sister Martin to give a prayer. One of the Young missionaries conducted. We sang hymns such as Oh Come All Ye Faithful, Joy to the World and Silent Night.

Shepards approaching Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus in the stable with the new star shining above 

They showed the Nativity Movie. Nativity - Birth of Jesus Christ

Mary and Baby Jesus

After watching this video, based on Luke chapter 2 from the New Testament in the Holy Bible, one of the full-time Sister Missionaries, Sister Beesa, from New Dehli, gave a short talk and bore her testimony.

Next they played a Christmas message by Russel M. Nelson, Prophet and President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

 2018 Christmas Devotional - Link.

He began talking about a 12 year old girl named Lydia who is suffering from a rare type of brain cancer, her challenges and discussion about what heaven is like.

President Nelson then spoke about many gifts that Jesus has given us. The young missionaries had wrapped boxes with many of the names of these gifts and put them under a Christmas tree in the foyer. They concluded with a few remarks and closed with a prayer.

Christmas tree with wrapped gifts depicting the gifts Jesus gives us

Sister Martin and I both talked to some people who had never been in a church before in their whole life. They said they enjoyed it and would come again. Most of the attendees left contact information and asked the missionaries to call them.

Elder Joseph, Elder Fulmer and Elder Vuppada

They had copies of the Book of Mormon in 4 languages wrapped as gifts. 

After the morning devotional was over, people kept coming and coming, so the missionaries had various videos playing in the chapel including this fantastic one. Nativity - Oh Come Emanuel with the Piano Guys

Sister Martin and I walked around the beautiful church grounds with a family following the morning devotional.

Just before we left for the evening devotional at the church on Christmas day, our apartment complex had some interesting things going on with Christmas songs like Jingle Bells and performers dancing.

During the evening devotional, I sat next to a woman who had never been to church. As we sang hymns from the hymn book I pointed to the verses where we were singing. After a couple of verses she began singing a little louder. Afterwards, as I shook her hand, Sister Martin gave her a hug and she looked so happy.

We were late coming home that night because people just kept walking in from off the street after it was over. We talked to some and others just wanted to go into the chapel and pray. One person exclaimed, "Where's God"? They were referring to something physical that they could pray to. Elder Fullmer explained that we believe in a living Christ. Our chapels and places of worship don't have them, only in temples or visitor centers. He told them that we come to church to worship Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ themselves and not idols of them. We feel them and worship them in our hearts and not a statue of them. 

Others asked Sister Martin where our statues were? She explained to them that in our main worship meeting, we partake of the sacrament to remember Jesus Christ who gave his life for us. She told them when Christ was on the earth, he had the sacrament with his apostles and we do that each Sunday. Sister Martin continued to explain that when we pray to God we pray to a real, personal, glorified father, not an image. He desires our hearts and souls to turn to him.

Sister Martin also talked to a man who told told her he had been very depressed because when his parents died he was all alone. He came to the church to find peace and hope. He had visited once before. He was happy he found truth. Elder Fullmer told us that they met him when he was about to commit suicide. Elder Fullmer told this brother, "Talking to God when you are drinking is like talking to him with your headphones on". This man immediately stopped drinking and has not done so since. He said he was so grateful to Elder Fullmer influencing his life during his deep depression. 

The missionaries reported that about 120 people had come that day, most leaving their contact information for a follow-up.

A few people came to church the following Sunday to participate in Sacrament Meeting. Two men attended all three meetings. 

For lunch, we were invited to one of the church members, Prahbu. We enjoyed getting to know a few of his family and friends. They gave us Biryani Chicken Rice.

Always a busy walk going home, night or day.