Christmas is an open door each year to the people outside our churches. It gives us a perfect opportunity to come together to celebrate and serve our community – whether that is to host a carols event, fundraise for those in need, or directly serve the homeless.
These Baptist churches are meeting their community this Christmas season and sharing the good news of the gospel as they go.
Glen Osmond Baptist Church, in Adelaide’s inner southern suburbs, hosts ‘Carols on the Oval’ on Christmas Eve. Since 2020, the church has hosted the community outreach event featuring a free sausage sizzle, family-friendly activities, carol singing, and the sharing of the gospel message.
For Pastor Peter Swann, the event is an opportunity to celebrate with their community. Peter says, “Christmas is one of those events in the Australian calendar where we come together to celebrate something common, and it’s one that, as a church, we actually get to partake in and lead the celebrations.”
Also in Adelaide’s inner south, Unley Park Baptist Church hosts a street party each year where they provide food and drink, sing carols and hymns together, and share the gospel with 300 people from their local community. They also take up an offering on the night to support the work of the WestCare Centre.
One of the focuses of the event is to create a bridge between the church and the wider community. “The street party builds a bridge,” says Pastor Jason Hoet. The church hosts a playgroup throughout the year, and the street party is another opportunity to engage with those 80 families. “They come along to this event, and it’s a bit more explicit on the Jesus side but still inviting. It just kind of puts another stepping stone down,” Jason says.
Up in the Northern Territory, Katherine Baptist Church, along with other local churches, hosts many Christmas events throughout December. This includes a combined church service, a Christmas Carols Service in the town of Mataranka, and carol singing at Katherine Hospital. After their Christmas Day service, Pastors Kevin and Christina Young encourage those who can join them in helping the Salvos provide a Christmas lunch for over 100 people, many of whom are homeless.
For Kevin and Christina, each one of these events is an outreach opportunity and a chance to share the gospel with the people of Katherine. Kevin says, “The hope of the church is to try and get the message of salvation out to the community as much as possible.”
Christmas is the perfect opportunity for churches to connect with their communities, bringing joy and sharing the true meaning of the season.
words by
Lucy C Budzynska
Writer, Glen Osmond Baptist
