I didn't intend to doze off.

I always look forward to attending conferences where Leith Anderson, an expert in church growth, speaks on outreach-related topics. But he was speaking after lunch, and as the lights in the convention hall dimmed, I drifted to the edge of sleep. Sometime later, I was jolted awake by his words: "Christmas is a key entry point for people into the church."

I was almost startled by the concept. In our home, Christmas has always been a time for family. Our celebration has focused on the birth of Jesus, but I had never before thought about growing the family of Christ at Christmas.

I didn't hear the rest of the speech that afternoon. My mind raced ahead to consider the many doors God opens only at Christmas. Store audio systems play "Joy to the World! The Lord Is Come." Nativity sets are featured displays. Talk-show hosts discuss peace and hope. Churches add worship options to accommodate the larger crowds.

Several Christmas seasons have passed since that convention session. To a casual observer of the Simon family scene in December, it might appear that nothing has changed. After all, even as an on mission Chris-tian I'm still tempted to get so tangled in the trappings of the season that I forget to share the treasure. But, as our family has become more intentional in sharing the Christmas gospel, I've also noticed the many ways in which fellow Christians are clearly on mission.

As your family prepares for Christmas this year, which of these ideas would work for you? Think about options that not only remind friends and family of the true Christmas message but give you easy opportunities to share the entire gospel.

Selecton missionhome decorations

Can people driving by see that your family celebrates the birth of Jesus?

When someone walks into your living room, can they tell that you focus on the Christ child?

During some Christmas seasons, our living room was decorated in early hay. That's because our three children so thoroughly enjoyed the tradition of preparing the manger for the Christ child.

In the sometimes tension-filled week before Christmas, our children added one piece of straw to the manger--every time he or she did a kind deed or had a kind thought.

The heart-warming result: when Christmas Eve arrived, baby Jesus had a cradle overflowing with signs of love.

As you crunch the snow on winter walks through your neighborhood, you might look for families that practice another tradition our family adopted: the manger march.

Each day, you'll see the silhouettes of various nativity figures as they move from windowsill to windowsill, ever closer to the manger.

By Christmas Eve, the window-sills will be empty because all the figures are in the stable, awaiting His arrival.

Purchase Christ-honoring gifts

Will friends and relatives receive gifts which support your on mission efforts to share Christ with these people throughout the year? Will the presents you buy reflect the gifts of love first shared by the Magi?

Statistics vary, but researchers estimate that only one in 10 practicing Christians shop at a Christian bookstore. So, before you shop the mall, shop your local Christian store or order from Christian catalogs. You'll find T-shirts, software, videos, music and beautiful framed pieces of art. Grand-parents who are in the heart-breaking position of seeing grandchildren being raised without knowing Christ often find that Christmas is the one time of year when religious gifts are accepted.

Family traditions can even be shaped to reflect the priority of selecting Christ-honoring gifts. For example, if you always give a niece a box of stationary for holiday thank-you notes, this year you might select notes with a Bible verse incorporated into the design. Close friends and relatives might purchase a new Bible each Christmas for a special child or grandchild.

One year, our "family gift" to friends was a Jesus birthday cake. Our children loved setting up the nativity sets in different designs on each of the caketops. They added the number of birthday candles that happened to be available!

Seek opportunities to serve

At this time of year, who needs what you can offer? What can you give?

Although giving a wrapped gift can be meaningful, there is nothing more significant than the gift of oneself. Especially during the busy holidays, the gift of time and caring can be more valuable than any fancy package. You might ask your pastor for names of shut-ins to visit.

Schools, clubs, teams and church groups of all kinds participate in various types of collections for the needy. Our friends went a step farther. They asked for permission to personally deliver the gifts, which had been collected by the third grade classroom. Although some agencies limit direct contact with clients, the experience of having a personal contact with an obviously needy family created an indelible memory for our friends and their three children. This genuine concern can also open a dialog about faith.

Look for outreach opportunities

What doors will God open to reach a member of your family? Whose life would be changed by the message of Christmas?

"Hearts come home at Christmas" reads a popular holiday card. That's one of the reasons it's so natural to help people make a heart connection with Jesus during this season. Being an on mission Christian at Christmas is easier for me than at any other time: even holiday jewelry and music pave the way for me to share the message!

But I also appreciate the ways in which our church actively supports outreach during the holidays. We can address pre-stamped postcards to friends or relatives. The cards are labeled "refrigerator reminder" and printed with the holiday worship schedule.

Worship is offered at numerous times, so whether presents are opened early or late, going to church can still be a part of the traditional family schedule from year to year. Additional information packets are prepared and readily available for guests, which helps visitors feel welcome.

Traditions have often been defined as the glue that holds a family together. But in today's postmodern era, traditions can also reflect a family sharing Christ. A step-grandparent might be amazed as his newly added grandson shares his drawings of a nativity scene. Your new daughter-in-law might hear the Christmas story for the first time when you continue the annual tradition of reading Luke 2 before sitting down for the holiday meal. These real-life situations will be repeated this year in living rooms throughout the United States and Canada.

The images of a Currier & Ives Christmas are etched in my mind, but the holiday we will celebrate in 1998 is far different from that of previous eras. The family that gathers for your Christmas dinner may have added or lost members since last year. The family group itself might be dramatically different from even five years ago.

And, although the changes may bring emotional stress, they also may offer outreach opportunities.

The mission field is no longer just across an ocean or on another continent: your mission field, like mine, may be as near as the person to whom you say, "Merry Christmas."

Dr. Mary Manz Simon, a popular conference speaker and best-selling author, wrote What Did Jesus Do? (Tommy Nelson) which was released last month, and the three books in The Prince of Egypt™ values series, which are being released this month. She also hosts a daily, one-minute nationally syndicated program, "Front Porch Parenting" which airs on almost 200 Christian radio stations.