Point to Jesus this Christmas (and Halloween!) 2025
Looking for ways to reach out with the gospel this Christmas (and Halloween!)?
From window displays to Bible giveaways, children’s resources to Christmas tree festivals, all the following ideas are centered on pointing people to Jesus!
Streets of Light: A Gospel Alternative to Halloween
Streets of Light began in the UK and has grown internationally. The initiative encourages people to decorate windows with messages of light, love, or hope during the weeks surrounding Halloween. Participants light up their windows each evening, creating a trail of encouragement in their communities.
Here are some top tips for creating a window display:
1. Use tracing paper or parchment paper to cover the window.
2. Use black cardstock for a silhouette effect, or colored tissue paper to add flare!
3. Stick around the edge of your window with tape.
4. Use Bible verses which talk about Jesus as the light of the world, God’s love, and the hope found only in Jesus.
5. Keep it simple!
Suggested verses include:
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. – John 1:5
Jesus said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’ John 8:12
"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" John 3:16
“God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him” 1 John 4:16
"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" Romans 5:8
But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength – Isaiah 40:31
Advent Resources for Families and Churches
Are you wanting to engage in the advent season well as a family or a church? Read on for some resource and activity ideas for this year.
- Advent calendars: Why not get an advent calendar where each day reveals a picture, Bible verse, or part of the Christmas story? We particularly like the Names of Jesus Advent Calendar.
- Advent family devotionals: Pair these with activity books for interactive learning.
- Advent candles: Use candles as visual reminders to guide your family in reflection each evening as you gather over dinner!
- Devotional dippers: Portable cards with verses and prompts for busy families – Great for on the go devotions!
- Come and See Advent Box: A weekly devotional kit with all materials included, great for families to do at home, Sunday school during advent, or the childrens' slot in the service.
Children’s Ministry Ideas for Christmas
Suggestions for engaging children during Christmas include:
- Advent trails: Similar to Streets of Light, but with numbered windows revealing parts of the Christmas story on a daily basis.
- Kids’ carol services: Design a service specifically for children and families with interactive elements like quizzes and videos.
We have a wide range of children's resources that we recommend, all of which explain not just the nativity story, but the gospel message. These include board books for toddlers, activity books for older children, and a special title, The Most Special Christmas Night, which uses infographic-style illustrations to explain the story.
Teen Engagement Ideas
There can be unique challenges to reaching teens during the Christmas season, so consider these ideas:
- Gingerbread decorating events: Easy to organize and popular with teens.
- Spotify or YouTube playlists: Curated with Christian Christmas songs or testimonies.
- Congregational video messages: Members share their favorite parts of Advent to connect generations.
These ideas aim to make Christmas meaningful and relevant for young people.
Church-Wide Outreach Ideas
Churches, think creatively about outreach this season! Here are some ideas to perhaps inspire you:
- Carol services and craft events such as wreath making events. These provide opportunities to invite in the community outside your church and share the gospel.
- Advent reading groups: Using devotional books with those in your congregation, like the new devotion, Hallelujah, based on Handel’s Messiah.
- Gift wrapping stations: In shopping centers or central churches that the community can come to.
- Christmas card writing for residents in assisted living with personalized cards with tracts inside
- Giveaway bags filled with gospel resources and treats for neighbors or delivery workers.
Christmas Tree Festival: A Community Success Story
St Jude’s Mapperley, a church in England, organized a Christmas Tree Festival in 2024. They invited schools, community groups, businesses, and church groups to decorate Christmas trees representing their group and then put the trees up in their church. The event drew hundreds of visitors, including schools and local shops, and created new connections with the community members.
St Jude's shared with us some top tips:
Personal invitations to businesses and groups work better than emails.
- Prayer and hospitality were central to the event’s success, along with offering evangelistic resources to those who visited.
- Have a team of volunteers to offer refreshments, chat with visitors, and keep a craft table stocked for the littler visitors.
- The festival was a powerful way to bring people into the church and share the true message of Christmas!
Christmas Evangelism Books
When holding community events, or when planning what to give out to neighbors and friends, it’s great to have a selection of gospel books on hand. Some new titles to be aware of include:
- Christmas Stories by Colin Smith: First-person narratives from five biblical characters in the Christmas story. This small, full colour book works well for adults and teens.
- All You Want for Christmas by David Platt: A premium hardback gospel book, ideal for gifting to close friends and family this Christmas.
Tracts and Christmas Cards
Roger Carswell, a seasoned evangelist, passionately advocates for tracts as a powerful evangelistic tool. His advice includes:
- Use seasonal tracts: Harvest, Remembrance Day, Reformation Day, Black Friday, and Christmas.
- Go along to a local performance of Handel's Messiah and pass out the tracts which explain it's composition.
- Always carry tracts: In pockets, bags, and have a handful by the front door.
- Tracts open and close doors: They start and end gospel conversations, leaving people with something to look back at which clearly explains the gospel.
Roger’s message was clear: tracts are simple, effective, and still changing lives.
This Christmas’ new tract at 10ofthose is The Light Shining in Darkness, suitable for both Halloween and Christmas.
Bible Giveaway Ministry: David Cox’s Story
David Cox recently shared with us his inspiring story of giving away hundreds of Bibles from his home in England. He placed a simple sign in his window: “Free Bibles Available– Please Knock.” Over time, people of all ages and backgrounds began knocking on his door, asking for Bibles!
Key insights:
- Offer a range of Bibles: From beginners editions to full translations.
David’s top picks being:
Beginners Bible – As an overview or for younger children, or those with no Bible background at all
Jesus Storybook Bible – For children
NLT – For those who have English as an additional language, or lower comprehension levels
NIV with Zip – The most popular amongst those who know on his door.
- Ask questions to match the right Bible to the person.
- Be generous and welcoming: Many recipients are deeply moved by the gesture.
- No one mistreats the gift: People value the Bible because of the courage it took to ask for one and sometimes return with others to ask for more.
David emphasized that this ministry is simple, low-cost, and deeply rewarding.
Pairing the Bible with a tract like What the Bible is All About helps those receiving a free Bible to understand its significance.
Follow-Up Resources
We always recommend planning follow-up courses or opportunities after outreach events, and just a few suggestions include:
- The Word One-to-One: Book to aid reading John’s gospel or Acts with a friend.
- Christianity Explored and Hope Explored: Structured courses for seekers.
-321 by Speak Life: A course suitable for individuals to access independently, or as a group
These resources help deepen engagement and support discipleship.
Finally…
Christmas Evangelism checklist:
Order your Christmas giveaway sample pack to check out our new titles at a reduced cost.
Consider ordering Christmas cards and tracts for neighbors and friends
Collect invitations for church Christmas events and pray about who to invite along
Order a Big Christmas Giveaway Box to make up goodie bags containing evangelistic books for friends, mailmen, window cleaners and delivery drivers
Help plan a follow up course for the new year
We pray these ideas will not only be a blessing to you and your churches, but point many people to Jesus!
