Point to Jesus Webinar - Christmas (and Halloween!) 2025
9 minute read
Looking for ways to reach out with the gospel this Christmas (and Halloween!)?
Our recent Point to Jesus webinar aimed to help equip and inspire churches and individuals to share the gospel creatively. We were thrilled to welcome a range of speakers and ideas for all ages and stages.
From window displays to Bible giveaways, children’s resources to Christmas tree festivals, all the ideas are centered on pointing people to Jesus.
Here we bring you an overview of what was shared, and you can also watch along on the recording below!
1. Streets of Light: A Gospel Alternative to Halloween
Helen Ward from Streets of Light joined us to share how the initiative began in Sheffield and has grown nationally and internationally. Streets of Light encourages people to decorate windows with messages of light, love, or hope during the weeks surrounding Halloween. Participants light up their windows each evening, creating a trail of encouragement in their communities.
Helen shared her top tips for creating a window display:
1. Use tracing paper or baking paper to cover the window.
2. Use black card for a silhouette effect, or coloured tissue to add flare!
3. Stick around the edge of your window with cellotape.
4. Use Bible verses which talk about Jesus as the light of the world, God’s love, and the hope found only in Jesus.
5. Keep it simple!
Suggested verses include:
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. – John 1 v 5
Jesus said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’ John 8 v 12
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life" John 3 v 16
“God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him” 1 John 4 v 16
"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" Romans 5 v 8
But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength – Isaiah 40 v 31
2. Engaging with Trick or Treaters at Halloween
Rather than avoiding Halloween we encouraged Christians to engage with it in a gospel-centered way. Suggestions included:
- Giving out tracts: Halloween-themed tracts are available in packs of 50, or slightly larger booklets like The Pumpkin Story and Jesus is the Light.
- Mini torches: These feature John 8 v 12 and make memorable gifts for children attending light parties.
- Goodie bags: Include sweets, tracts, and for adults, a copy of Life Magazine and a hot drink sachet.
The goal is to be generous and intentional, using Halloween as an opportunity to share the gospel, rather than retreating from it.
Read more ideas for Halloween evangelism on our Halloween blog post.
3. Life Magazine: A Versatile Evangelistic Tool
Life Magazine is a gospel-centered magazine designed for easy distribution to everyone who lives on your street. This issue includes:
- Testimonies from a textile artist, a converted Hells Angel, a grime artist, and a Disney animator.
- Gospel articles, including one on Narnia and another on gardening.
- General interest content like recipes and children’s literature feature.
It’s suitable for all ages and stages, and churches can personalize it with their details. Copies are available at discounted rates for bulk orders and can be distributed door-to-door.
4. Advent Resources for Families and Churches
The webinar highlighted a variety of Advent resources to help families and churches focus on Jesus during the season:
- Advent calendars: Why not get an advent calendar where each day reveals a picture, Bible verse, or part of the Christmas story?
- Advent family devotionals: Paired with activity books for interactive learning.
- Advent candles: Featuring names of Jesus for daily reflection.
- Devotional dippers: Portable cards with verses and prompts for busy families – Great for on the go devotions!
- Daily crafts: Ideal for toddler groups.
- Come and See Advent Box: A weekly devotional kit with all materials included, great for families to do at home, Sunday school during advent, or the kids slot in the service.
5. Children’s Ministry Ideas for Christmas
Suggestions for engaging children during Christmas included:
- Advent trails: Similar to Streets of Light, but with numbered windows revealing parts of the Christmas story on a daily basis.
- School assemblies: Churches were encouraged to offer assemblies to talk about the true Christmas story, and that teachers appreciate when these can tie in with the RE syllabus.
- Kids’ carol services: Designed specifically for children and families, with interactive elements like quizzes and videos.
A wide range of children’s books were recommended, all of which explain not just the nativity story, but the gospel message. These include board books for toddlers, activity books for older children, and a new title, The Most Special Christmas Night, which uses infographic-style illustrations to explain the story.
Check out our previous blog post which focuses in on more children’s ideas.
Teen Engagement Ideas
Recognizing the challenge of engaging teens, we talked about several teen specific ideas:
- Gingerbread decorating events: Easy to organize and popular with teens.
- Spotify or YouTube playlists: Curated with Christian Christmas songs or testimonies.
- Congregational video messages: Members share their favorite parts of Advent to connect generations.
These ideas aim to make Christmas meaningful and relevant for young people.
Check out our previous blog post which focuses in on more teen’s ideas.
6. Church-Wide Outreach Ideas
Churches were encouraged to think creatively about outreach:
- Carol services and craft events such as wreath making events: Opportunities to invite in the community and share the gospel.
- Advent reading groups: Using devotional books with those in your congregation, like the new devotion, Hallelujah, based on Handel’s Messiah.
- Gift wrapping stations: In shopping centers or central churches.
- Christmas card writing for care homes residents: Personalised cards with tracts inside
- Giveaway bags: Filled with gospel resources and treats for neighbours or delivery workers.
Christmas Tree Festival: A Community Success Story
Bev and Jean from St Jude’s Mapperley shared their experience organising a Christmas Tree Festival in 2024. They invited schools, community groups, businesses, and church groups to decorate Christmas trees representing their identity or faith. The event drew hundreds of visitors, including schools and local shops, and created new connections with the community.
Key takeaways included:
- Personal invitations work better than emails.
- Prayer and hospitality were central to the event’s success, along with offering evangelistic resources to those who visited, including a Christian Christmas decoration.
- Have a team of volunteers to offer refreshments, chat with visitors, and keep the craft table stocked.
- The festival was a powerful way to bring people into the church and share the true message of Christmas.
7. Christmas Evangelism Books
When holding community events, or when planning what to give out to neighbours and friends it’s great to have a selection of gospel books on hand. Some new titles to be aware of include:
- Christmas Stories by Colin Smith: First-person narratives from five biblical characters in the Christmas story. This small, full colour book works well for adults and teens.
A live nativity script, posters and social media graphics, and sermon resources have been produced from our friends at Open the Bible to work alongside Christmas Stories, get them now for free.
- All You Want for Christmas by David Platt: A premium hardback gospel book, ideal for gifting to close friends and family this Christmas.
8. Tracts and Christmas Cards
Roger Carswell, our resident guest, passionately advocated for tracts as a powerful evangelistic tool. He shared recent testimonies of people responding to tracts years after receiving them. His advice included:
- Use seasonal tracts: Harvest, Remembrance Day, Reformation Day, Black Friday, and Christmas.
- Go along to a local performance of Handel's Messiah and pass out the tracts which explain it's composition.
- Always carry tracts: In pockets, bags, and have a handful by the front door.
- Tracts open and close doors: They start and end gospel conversations, leaving people with something to look back at which clearly explains the gospel.
Roger’s message was clear: tracts are simple, effective, and still changing lives.
This Christmas’ new tract at 10ofthose is The Light Shining in Darkness, suitable for both Halloween and Christmas.
Charity Christmas cards for family, friends and community don't just have an immediate blessing, the proceeds also support bursaries for Christian youth camps.
9. Bible Giveaway Ministry: David Cox’s Story
David Cox shared his inspiring story of giving away hundreds of Bibles from his home in Derby. He placed a simple sign in his window: “Free Bibles Available– Please Knock.” Over time, people of all ages and backgrounds began knocking on his door, asking for Bibles!
Key insights:
- Offer a range of Bibles: From beginners editions to full translations.
David’s top picks being:
Beginners Bible – As an overview or for younger children, or those with no Bible background at all
Jesus Storybook Bible – For children
NLT – For those who have English as an additional language, or lower comprehension levels
NIV with Zip – The most popular amongst those who know on his door.
- Ask questions to match the right Bible to the person.
- Be generous and welcoming: Many recipients are deeply moved by the gesture.
- No one mistreats the gift: People value the Bible because of the courage it took to ask for one and sometimes return with others to ask for more.
David emphasized that this ministry is simple, low-cost, and deeply rewarding.
A new, low cost NIV Outreach Bible produced in partnership with Biblica is also now available. With a timeless design, crisp white pages, and a Bible reading plan included, it is ideal for churches to distribute widely, and costs just £2 when buying 40 or more.
Pairing the Bible with a tract like What the Bible is All About helps those receiving a free Bible to understand its significance.
10. Follow-Up Resources
We always recommend planning follow-up courses or opportunities after outreach events, and just a few suggestions include:
- The Word One-to-One: Book to aid reading John’s gospel or Acts with a friend.
- Uncover by UCCF: A redesigned course for exploring Christianity.
- Christianity Explored and Hope Explored: Structured courses for seekers.
-321 by Speak Life: A course suitable for individuals to access independently, or as a group
These resources help deepen engagement and support discipleship.
Finally…
Christmas Evangelism checklist:
Order your Christmas giveaway sample pack to check out our new titles at a reduced cost.
Consider ordering Christmas cards and tracts for neighbours and friends
Pray how you can use Life Magazines to give out in your community
Collect invitations for church Christmas events and pray about who to invite along
Order a Big Christmas Giveaway Box to make up goodie bags containing evangelistic books for friends, postmen, window cleaners and delivery drivers
Help plan a follow up course for the new year
We pray these ideas will not only be a blessing to you and your churches, but point many people to Jesus.
11. Q&A
At the end of the event we had time to take some questions from those attending!
How do you add colour to the window displays?
Helen suggested using coloured tissue paper glued onto the tracing paper, or cutting holes in black paper and attaching the coloured tissue to that, like a stained glass window effect.
What version of the Bible is best for someone with English as an additional language?
David suggested that the New Living Translation is is what he recommends. The advantage there is that it is still a faithful translation, but instead of using the complex words that might confuse, it uses a few more common words.
Would you recommend putting your own contact details on the back of tracts?
Bethan said that although Roger (as the author) used to have his own contact details on the back, all tracts now have a central address they are sent to, and recommended that if churches wanted to add their details it be a church contact humber and address, not an individual. The Life Magazine also has a QR code contact form for those wanting to find out more details about the gospel.
More Evangelism Articles:
Being Enthusiastically Evangelistic this Christmas - 3 minute read
Share the Light of Jesus this Halloween - 7 minute read
Outreach and Evangelism: What’s the difference, and does it really matter? - 7 minute read
How can we share the gospel with our family? - 9 minute read
Evangelism for the Discouraged and Disheartened - 5 minute read
Evangelism - a word Christians fear? - 6 minute read
