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Merry Christmas!

As the year draws to a close, all of us at Ministry Travel want to thank you for sharing your lives and ministries with us. I think back about all the different kinds of clients we have the privilege of serving -- orphan ministries, church groups, adoption agencies, AIDS relief, college outreach programs, evangelism teams, water filtration ministries...the list seems endless, just like the needs of the world. We consider ourselves to be an extension of your ministry, and we are so thankful for the opportunity you give us to work in such fulfilling jobs each day.

I'm reminded this holiday season of John 16:33. "These things I have spoken unto you that in Me you will have peace. In the world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world." There are many people in need, it seems especially this year. Thank you for investing your lives and money in the needs of others so that they can ultimately know the One who gives real peace. Thank you for allowing us to be a small part of your ministry and entrusting us with the responsibility of getting you to your destinations. We exist so you can go.

Merry Christmas and may 2010 be bright for each of you.

Very Sincerely,

Beth A. Banfill

President, Ministry Travel

Referral of the Month!

Each month, we will continue to recognize you for referring people to us. Anyone who purchases tickets during the previous month and mentions that they were referred by someone will be entered into a drawing to receive a $25 gift card to a nearby restaurant. Ministry Travel wants to recognize Ann D, recipient of a $25 Applebees gift card for referring Larry B. to us last month. Congratulations, Ann! Thank you for believing in us enough to tell others about us! Keep the referrals coming!

Christmas and Missions: The Immanuel Factor
By Frank Banfill

"Don't take your shoes off," the translator exclaimed to the Americans as they entered the Russian apartment. Startled, the American short-term missionaries obeyed. In every other home they had entered, culture dictated they remove their shoes, but not here. It soon became apparent why-the floor was littered with needles.

This apartment, in fact most of the apartment building, was home to drug addicts. A thousand miles from Moscow, this missions team was in a city ravaged by alcoholism and substance abuse.

After the initial surprise, the Americans began to share the love of God with the residents of the small flat. No one before had ever done that for them. No one had ever showed them how they could have peace and purpose to their lives. Apparently no one before cared enough to enter their world to show them a better way.

The people in that apartment embraced God's love and message, and they invited the Americans to return the next day for a Bible study. The Americans did return, pleasantly surprised to find the drug paraphernalia gone and a room full of residents from other apartments. They had heard about the Americans and their message of hope, and they wanted to know more.

Revival swept across that apartment complex because a group of dedicated believers brought God to those residents. They were the epitome of Christmas. They displayed immanuel to those addicts.

Immanuel means "God with us" and it was one of the names given to Jesus. Immanuel is the name best reflected by Christmas-the celebration of God coming to us in order to be with us that we one day might be with Him.

The reality of immanuel and Christmas is exemplified throughout the year as tens of thousands of people leave the comfort of their own homes to enter into "another world" through what we call short term missions. Wherever they go, they will bring God to those whom they serve.

In the middle of an African desert there is a team of foreigners drilling a well. They will share life-giving water to the area, as well as the eternal life-giving truth of the gospel. This is Christmas lived out.

In a Romanian orphanage someone from a distant land will hold a small child and tell his older sibling about God's love. She will provide the children with shoes and blankets. This is Christmas exemplified in a rural community where horse drawn wagons are a common site. This is introducing Immanuel to those children.

In an inner-city church a group will gather to pray. They will pray for people they have never met living half a world away. They will pray with the same intensity as if they were praying for their own wayward child. They will pray, and in so doing demonstrate the selflessness that Christmas is all about.

As the special offering is being received in a suburban American church, a father will write out a check to provide food and shelter for street kids in India. Some might say, "These aren't his kids. He's not responsible for them." The dad, however, would ignore those sentiments and continue to write the check. "They may not be my kids," he thinks, "but they are someone's children, and they are special to God." His actions will make it possible for those street kids to discover that God is with them.

The team loaded into the Russian train and settled into their seats to start the long journey to the airport and then on to their home country. They looked out the window and saw teenagers holding hand-written signs with just two English words: "Thank You."

The team knew what that meant. "Thank you for giving of your time. Thank you for sacrificing your comfort. Thank you for bringing God to us." No more needed to be said. No greater payment needed to be given. The team knew that these teenagers' lives were forever changed. They were changed because these ordinary people had lived out Christmas.

Now our thoughts turn to celebrating Christmas-the first one where Christ gave up everything to meet the needs of man-and Christmas today, where selfless Christ-followers give of what they have to serve the needs of others. We celebrate those who take that spirit and calling and make everyday Christmas to those living "in the ends of the earth." We all rejoice that someone, somewhere today, is helping another person discover God with them in a very real way.

Whether you go, pray, give or do all of the above, know that you are making a difference. Your sacrifices are changing lives. You are moving Christmas from an event on the calendar to a personal reality for many. You are introducing Immanuel to a new generation.

Frank Banfill is an author, speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries (www.maxpoint.org). He writes on behalf of Ministry Travel (www.ministrytravel.com)

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