Christmas Day in Pictures

I  want  to   show  you our  Christmas Day celebration  in  pictures. It was  the  most historic, memorable and  amazing Christmas of my life.

Our out door Nativity scene. The  figures were made   by  folk  artists. They need  improvement and we shall  do that  next  year. You can see my  Sheeba joining  with  the   animals in the   stable.

At first  Sheeba was  taken by  surprised by the  animals  almost  her  size and  puzzled   by   them  she  barked . Later on she did   obeisance  to the  Baby Jesus.

Our church front  colourfully  decorated.

Children have a special place in  our  church.

It was very cold but the church was full.  During testimony time many people  came  forward to tell their  stories  and  sing  songs for  the  glory  of God. We could  have  gone on  endlessly.

People lining  up for  prayer after  service.

Everybody enjoying themselves in the  church yard.

Santa came riding a bicycle. His  bicycle has  Scripture verses  displayed on it. He  distributed  candy to  the  children.

The  boys  are  all  smiles

Book  table. Gopal , who was  managing  it,testified how his  mother  was  healed  on her  death bed.

Everybody got a hot  plate of  channa to warm themselves.

Bon fire

Quote by Steve Maraboli

"Want to keep Christ in Christmas? Feed the hungry, clothe the naked, forgive the guilty, welcome the unwanted, care for the ill, love your enemies, and do unto others as you would have done unto you."

Our  Christmas  Day ministry  lasted  for  nearly 12  hours. After  the service  was  over , people  kept coming wanting to see  the  church,  and  asking  for  prayer.  Our pastor  and  I  together  with  others  remained  in  church  till 9 PM   talking to  visitors and  praying   with   them, sharing  God 's  love   with all.
We  did  not even have   time   for  lunch. I went  home  to    give  away bags of Christmas  goodies  etc. I  made for  some  people. Quickly I  made  a  pot  of  noodles  with  fresh  vegetables. I gave  a  big bowl to my church  workers and  sent  another  bowl  to our ministers. I wish  I had  a  larger  utensil to cook  in. Later on someone brought  us black tea which got  cold as  we were  busy talking to  people.
People came  seeking  the  Christ Child.
Groups of  students, families, neighbours all  together, individuals, couples, children.
People from all  walks of   life and  sections of society and  from far  off  places.
Everyone got  personal attention and  prayer.
I cannot   tell  you  all  the  stories / prayer requests we heard  that  day.
A young  man in search of  moksha - deliverance  of the  cycle   of  rebirth.
A woman estranged from her  husband.
A small  boy   whose  mother  was  ill at home.
A beautiful  teenage girl wept  inconsolably for her  24 year old brother  who has gone  blind.
They  came   seeking  answers  and  comfort.
Cold , hunger  and  time  was   forgotten. Just  as  we would  want  to  close  the  church a group of  more  people  would  walk in.
God  did  a   mighty  work that  day. pray  the seed that  was  sown would  fall  on  good ground , take root   and  bear  fruit.
 

Bidding  everyone  Goodnight late  at  night.