The prisoner sat in his cold, dingy cell. There was just enough light filtering through the metal bars of his window to read the word he scrawled with a short, stubby pencil. He had finished his wish list, and it was simple: Freedom. He wanted nothing more than to celebrate Christmas the way it used to be, with Mom’s spiral cooked ham and creamy scalloped potatoes.

Now think of the prisoner next door. Or the one who is your coworker. Or the one who coaches your son’s football team. Yes, you may be free, but they open their gifts in the cold, dingy cells of their empty way of life. Their “Happy Holiday” is second-rate because they are still prisoners of sin, death, and the devil. You, dear Christian, have the Key to set them free. You have Jesus, the liberator of sinners.

But isn’t Christmas more secular and commercialized every year? Jesus is being lost behind the glitter, frivolity, and materialistic pleasures that litter the season. The X-boxes, toys, games, clothes, jewelry, TVs, DVDs, foods, drinks, and earthly good cheer are distracting. Sadly, the world is losing sight of Jesus. But amid all of this turmoil and confusion your eyes are fixed “on Jesus, the author and perfecter of your faith.” You have already unwrapped God’s gift to the world and received the personal blessings of His forgiveness and mercy. Now, share the gift of Jesus with those desperate prisoners around you so that they can unwrap Him. Show the world the Savior. Be a missionary at Christmas.

Christmas has mission opportunities like no other time of the year. The festive spirit of the season makes people more friendly and open. So let’s explore some ways to be a missionary at Christmas.

• Advertise your service times. It’s true that some people go to church only at Christmas and Easter. Give them the option to worship with you. Make sure the service times are clearly displayed on your church sign. Publish them in the paper. Some radio stations will play them as a “Public Service Announcement” free of charge. Find out how to run ads on your local radio station.
• Produce a flyer with your Christmas service times. Give it to your neighbors and friends and specifically invite them to one service, or make the invitation into a postcard to mail to your entire area code. Two services you can include are:

1) Children’s Christmas Program: People are more open to attending a children’s program than going to a “church service.” Use the children as a tool.

2) Christmas Eve Carol Service: Even complete heathens can get caught up in the joy of singing carols. Invite your unbelieving friends. Have some cider and Christmas cookies ready so that they have a chance to bump into your pastor.

• Make sure that your pastor has ample time to write his best law and gospel sermons. He, too, can be caught up in the Christmas rush. Look at ways to lighten his other duties to allow enough time for the many sermons of the season. This might be the only sermon your friend hears all year, so your pastor should be enabled to preach his best.
• Most people enjoy Christmas carols. Organize a church group to carol in your neighborhood. Take those church service flyers with you!
• Your children will be asked what Santa brought for Christmas. Be ready with a quick response, such as, “Santa didn’t bring me anything, but God gave me Jesus.”
• Take a friend to coffee, saying you need a reprieve from the season’s hectic pace. Tell her about the peace and rest that God has given through the birth of His Son.
• BE EXCITED. You have good news and the best gift of all. Jesus was born to set sinners free!

There are more ways that you can be a missionary at Christmas. In the bustle of the season don’t lose the joy of being pardoned. You can make another prisoner’s Christmas first rate. You hold the Key. Open the cell door so that he can celebrate Christmas with God’s family. Set him free in Jesus’ name.

Timothy Hartwig is pastor of Our Saviour Lutheran Church in Lake Havasu City, Arizona.