November 28-December 4, 2011
Church Ministry News
Chiayi Church launches Thanksgiving-Christmas fun event and banquet
Reported by Chen Yi-hsuan
Written by Lydia Ma
Shuishang Presbyterian Church in near Chiayi welcomed Christmas earlier than usual this year by hosting a series of fun activities leading up to an evangelistic banquet. More than 100 people living nearby attended this event, which included six stations, each with different games. Children who successfully completed the games at each station received a stamp on an activity card which could later be returned and exchanged for a prize. On the back of this activity card is a form for parents and children to write their names and contact numbers, which will help the church keep in touch with them later.
The church’s pastor, Rev. Chen Fong-ming, told Taiwan Church News that this Christmas event was moved up to the end of November and just after thanksgiving so that the church wouldn’t be so busy in December. Another reason for this change is that the event would serve as a bridge for the church to share Thanksgiving themes and Christmas themes.
The banquet following the mini-carnival is a first and its purpose is to invite children and their parents to stay longer, enjoy a meal, get to know the church, and share with one another the blessings for which they are thankful for this year. Chen said the church didn’t schedule any banquets in previous years, but he felt a meal together would boost fellowship and interaction between the church and the community.
In an effort to promote this event and boost attendance, Shuishang Church staff began distributing flyers promoting this event as early as 2 weeks prior. Their efforts paid off in the end, as a total of 67 children and more than 20 parents attended the Christmas event.
Chen told Taiwan Church News that his church had held summer camps for children before, but the children and the church would lose contact once summer came to an end. This situation prompted Chen to think about holding an event between Thanksgiving and Christmas to keep in touch with families the church had gotten to know over the summer. The church will hold an evangelistic concert on the evening of December 17, which will be open to the community, and it will also go caroling at a nearby nursing home on Christmas Eve.
