Leadership Connexion Winter 2022

YOUTH DIRECTOR | Joe Cali | 717.649.6788 | joe@penndel.org
Christmas,
The Greatest Time To...
Christmas has become one of my all-time favorite
holidays. It brings me back to fun memories as a
child, setting up the Christmas tree, placing the
outdoor lights, setting up the nativity scene, hot chocolate
and lots of cookies. Its all so much fun. It makes me want to
create and develop fun memories with my kids. In the Cali
house, Christmas movies can play all year round. Christmas
music makes a grand entrance on my birthday in September,
and we love it! We know everyone doesn’t have the same
passion for Christmas like we do. However, when we have the
Christmas decorations up and the Christmas music playing,
we are making a statement to those around us, ‘its time for
Christmas’. We hope others can enjoy the season as well.
I’m reminded by a verse in John, Chapter 1. John the Baptist
sees Jesus in the distance on his way toward him. John makes
this bold statement
“Behold! The Lamb of God who takes
away the sin of the world!”
He wanted everyone around him to know who this man was.
He was hoping others would be excited and join him in believing
who Jesus is. Imagine if the people around you were given an
opportunity to hear about Jesus?
Christmas tends to be one of the greatest moments for us
as Christians to make a BOLD statement to others who we
believe in and why. It’s a wonderful time to be reminded (by
the facts) that Jesus did not have to come down from heaven.
Jesus, the Son of God, could have kept to his divinity and
remained in Heaven. However, he chose to be obedient to God
the Father and still have His divine nature, yet come to earth
and live as a human. Jesus chose to lay down the comforts of
Heaven for the sake of giving all mankind access to the gates
of Heaven. He knew the cross was in his future. He was willing
in hopes that no one will perish and go to Hell. The sad reality
is, people will die and go to Hell, but if people place their faith
in Jesus they will die and go to Heaven. Someone just needs
to tell them about Jesus and give them the opportunity to
make their own personal decision. Maybe it can be your
BOLD statement that you make.
In PennDel Youth one of our ministries is Youth Alive. We
challenge students to be BOLD in their faith and become
campus missionaries, students who share Jesus in their
schools and beyond. This past school year we had a few
campus missionaries in Western PA that decided to share
Jesus in their schools. In two different schools these campus
missionaries had the idea to set up a table of Bibles and Youth
Alive resources in their lunch room. They were willing to lay
down the comforts of just eating lunch, as usual, to stand next
to a table ready to give Bibles away and have conversations
with students about God, pointing them to Jesus. They were
willing to take any criticism in hopes that students would learn
about Jesus. When I asked one of them why they did it, they
said, “I’m sick and tired of waiting. These students need to
hear about Jesus.”
This Christmas season, I challenge you to think
of creative ways to share Jesus BOLDLY in your
community, in your workplace and in your schools.
Would you consider brainstorming with your
students to see how you can share Jesus in your
local schools and community during this Christmas
season? Maybe you can provide Bibles to hand out,
give out cookies to every student before Christmas
break, create a gift basket for some students or
teachers, etc. No matter how you choose to share
Jesus, be intentional and prepared to give reason
why you do what you do.
Jesus’ death on that cross was the overpayment of your
sins and mine. The blood he shed on that cross covers your
coworkers, colleagues, students and neighbors sins as well.
Who will share this great news with them?
The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him,
and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes
away the sin of the world!" John 1:29
Check out some of the resources to help keep you and
your students sharing Jesus in your community.
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