Joy W. Lucius
Guest writer
September 2015 – American retailers are already displaying Christmas wares. So, go ahead! Make lists, gather gifts, and plan parties. And this year, perhaps plan a different party, the Ultimate Christmas Party. It could be a life-altering event for your special guests.
More than a holiday gathering, the Ultimate Christmas Party is an innovative resource of the Christmas Across America project, which local churches can utilize to evangelize unchurched neighborhood children while celebrating the birthday of Jesus. And what better way to celebrate than by sharing the real story of Christmas with children, some of whom will shockingly hear about Mary and Joseph, the shepherds, the angels, and baby Jesus for the first time at the Ultimate Christmas Party?
This fledgling evangelistic campaign may be unfamiliar to readers, but the ministry behind Christmas Across America is the well-known organization Child Evangelism Fellowship. Founded in 1937, CEF is the world’s largest evangelistic outreach dedicated solely to children, having reached almost 20 million children in 192 countries in 2014 alone.
And after 78 years of sharing the gospel worldwide, CEF knows how to throw an evangelism party. Last year, the ministry helped host 300 Christmas parties. But CEF has simplified the hosting process for local church members in hopes of implementing 5,000 parties this year to reach 100,000 unchurched children in the U.S.
To host a neighborhood party, one simply partners with another adult from church and goes to christmasacrossamerica.com. Type in a specific state to see if there is a local CEF chapter. Then, either call the chapter’s phone number to sign up, or register online (under the ministry of a local church) to host a Christmas party. The process is simple and free!
In fact, all screening, training, and materials needed are free through CEF. Each team will receive a party kit, including curriculum, 25 children’s booklets, songs, pictures, and ideas for party games and activities, along with other online resources. Plus, CEF has partnered with the JESUS Film Project to provide each kit with 20 DVDs of The Story of Jesus for Children.
After all, sharing the gospel is the heart of CEF, according to Debbie Walsh, director of promotions for CEF’s Christmas Across America. Walsh contends that Christmas Across America is unique in two respects. First of all, CEF envisions these Christmas parties as a way to “partner with the local church as a launching pad or spring board” for neighborhood evangelism. A simple party can help grow the body of Christ by reaching families that local churches might never have had a chance to meet in any other setting.
Most important in Walsh’s eyes, is the preemptive nature of these parties. She sees Christmas Across America as a starting place for American kids to meet Jesus and learn about the good plans God has for them, before the enemy has a chance to “steal, kill or destroy” any part of their lives. She declares with excitement, “And I love when we thwart the plans of the enemy!” 
Christmas Across America
Child Evangelism Fellowship has ministered to children for 78 years through the efforts of almost 3,000 missionaries overseas, 700 employees, and over 40,000 volunteers. Christmas Across America is just their latest evangelistic endeavor. CEF provides children a multitude of resources in the form of Bible clubs, one being Good News Clubs, which meet in public schools as an after-school ministry. CEF also conducts age-appropriate Bible studies via mail and a ministry specifically for teens. Visit cefonline.com or call 800-300-4033 to discover these and other resources CEF offers children worldwide.
