When Santa Learned the Gospel
I came across this book through an email from the book company “10 of those.” 10 copies for €59.50, bargain I thought! But life has taught me never to give the gift of a Christian book without reading it first. So I ordered 1 copy first for myself. It just arrived and I have just finished reading it! Waw! What an enjoyable read! I couldn’t wait to read on to see what would happen and to view more of the glorious pictures in the book. I was gripped! What a genius way to share the Gospel, centering the story on someone who figures so prominently in our time at Christmas. . Children love rhyming patterns (and so do i!) and the story just had such fluidity because of the rhyming , whilst it also avails those of us who are more of the “theatrical type” (!) to use our acting and aural skills as we read the story out loud to children. I am a very new first time grandmother recently and I’m going to save this book for my baby granddaughter when she is older. Can’t wait to read her the story! But most importantly – use it as a building tool to explain the Gospel and tell her about the Jesus that loved her so much before the creation of the world, who came and died on a cross and died the death we should have died to pay the price of her sins so she could live forever in eternity with Him one day. . I am so excited! What a brilliant investment this book is! Can’t wait to spread the “ good news” about my treasured find! I’m just about to contact our pastor and I feel drawn to purchasing 50 copies maybe for the children at church this Christmas or to be given free at our Carol Service (or both!). Here’s praying!
Thank you God for giving Simon his wonderful gift to glorify you and as a tool to reach your people. Thank you Holy Spirit for leading him to the illustrator (who’s done the most awesome work to the same standard as the writing) and to the publishing company, Bless it Lord, sustain and grow it Jesus. You give the best gifts Lord. Thank you Simon and Matt for using your gifts to glorify God. May God bless you humoungously, encourage you massively and may God plant many seeds in the hearts of the lost, both old and young as they read this book and please Lord, grant many the gift of salvation. Amen
Kerri
When Santa Learned the Gospel
Let me be frank. Those Christmas cards that depict Santa kneeling at the manger make me cringe. There’s something about blending the icon of the secular, materialistic holiday with God incarnate that sets my teeth on edge. So, when I saw the title of this book, When Santa learned the Gospel, I expected to be at least annoyed, if not offended. How very wrong I was. This book has won me over.
The story begins with an elf who pages through a Bible that is going to be a Christmas present to a little child. As she reads the pages, she is convicted of her sin and puts her trust in Jesus Christ. Being obedient to the Word, she then shares her simple faith with Santa as best as she can. This gets Santa thinking about his practice of assigning children to the nice or naughty list and how inclusion on the nice list is pretty much due to the children trying to be good. As he considers the gospel, he realizes that no one is good. No not one. Not even himself. It comes as quite a shock to Santa that he should be on the naughty list. As someone who has always rewarded the “good” children and given coal to the “bad,” Santa is even more taken aback that God would offer mercy and forgiveness to those who have done nothing to earn it. In fact, He sent His Son to die for the bad. The gift of salvation that God offers cannot be earned but is freely given. Santa’s entire worldview is shaken. In response, he humbles himself, repents, and places his faith in Jesus Christ. He then has a new mission: to share the message of the gospel with everyone.
I love this story! A child’s understanding of salvation can get so very distorted by the works righteousness that is neatly packaged in the character of our present day Santa. The message of the holiday becomes “be good or Santa won’t bring you any presents.” This is a direct contradiction to how God interacts with us. This book doesn’t shy away from clearly stating the fallen nature of every man, woman, and child. The free gift of salvation is so much sweeter when a child realizes that s/he cannot earn it and that s/he doesn’t deserve it, but that God, who is rich in mercy extends it to even the worst among us. What a wonderful representation of just how much better Jesus is than Santa.
In addition to the wonderful story, there are additional features that recommend this book. First of all, the illustrations are so enjoyable. The characters are colorful and have very clear expressions as they go through various emotions. There are touching pictures such as the hill of Calvary being depicted with the two crosses on the sides and then the cross in the middle being the highlighted ribbon crossing on the front of a gift; and there is the picture of Santa worshiping his Creator as he looks upon the northern lights. The book is just a joy to look through. Also, the book has a section in the back titled “Tricky Word Glossary.” What an intelligent decision to include this to help children who may not be familiar with the terms that we hear so often in church. Each word has a definition and also a Bible reference to go with it.
Finally, for the parents, there is a section titled “The Author’s Inspiration” that explains how Camilleri came up with this idea. I think it will resonate with most adults who have sat through a Christmas program that intermingles the secular with the sacred and leaves you disappointed with the mixed messages that were shared.
With all that said, I can’t recommend this book highly enough. What a fantastic story! I thank Mr. Camilleri for addressing this topic in such a clear and correct way. And I think that the next time I see a Christmas card with Santa kneeling at the manger, I will remember this story and I will imagine that Santa being this one who realized that the good news of the gospel is so much greater than “you better be good for goodness’ sake.” Published on Books at a Glance, 3rd Dec 2018
Kristin Stiles
When Santa Learned the Gospel
This delightfully crafted and heart-warming tale of how Santa learned the truth about Jesus, will surely inspire children the world over.
Filled with eloquently chosen pros by author Simon Camilleri and magnificent artwork by illustrator Matthew Boutros, “When Santa learned the Gospel” will certainly captivate the imagination, and is destined to become one of only a handful of all-time Christmas Classics.
Trev McLean
Excellent
This delightfully crafted and heart-warming tale of how Santa learned the truth about Jesus, will surely inspire children the world over.
Filled with eloquently chosen pros by author Simon Camilleri and magnificent artwork by illustrator Matthew Boutros, “When Santa learned the Gospel” will certainly captivate the imagination, and is destined to become one of only a handful of all-time Christmas Classics.
Trev McLean
When Santa Learned the Gospel
This is a great little rhyming book all about the gospel. Santa is converted to Christ after thinking through the gospel taught him by an elf! Its real strength is taking us with Santa as he compares the message he’s heard with the message he teaches. This engaging approach will help children (and others!) not just hear the gospel message but to ponder it personally. Highly recommended.
Sam Osborne
An engaging gospel explanation
This is a great little rhyming book all about the gospel. Santa is converted to Christ after thinking through the gospel taught him by an elf! Its real strength is taking us with Santa as he compares the message he’s heard with the message he teaches. This engaging approach will help children (and others!) not just hear the gospel message but to ponder it personally. Highly recommended.
Sam Osborne
When Santa Learned the Gospel
When Santa Learned the Gospel is saved from preachiness by Camilleri’s gentle humour, the strength of the two main characters, the playful, unforced rhymes, and the stunning illustrations by Matthew Boutros. The message of Santa turns out to be a brilliant way to explain the goodness gospel, and the true gospel is described with clarity.
This book is a wonderful antidote to the tidal wave of Santa that kids absorb every Christmas through school, the media, and at shopping malls. I wish it had been available when my children were younger, to read together after all those school concerts where we always had to listen to ‘Santa Claus is coming to town’, a song that Simon engages with in his book.
This book will be greatly appreciated by parents who want their kids to grasp the difference between Santa’s message and the gospel. I can imagine it becoming a family favourite that’s read every year, as well as a widely used evangelistic and teaching resource for Sunday Schools, kids’ clubs, and Scripture classes.
Jean Williams, The Gospel Coalition Australia
When Santa Learned the Gospel
This is an attractive, imaginative, and effective presentation of the gospel for children. It is quirky: Santa Claus converted by an elf is not a common idea! But it gets its message across clearly: both the nice and naughty are only saved by Christ’s death on the cross. Thank you Simon.
Peter Adam, Former Principal of Ridley Theological College
When Santa Learned the Gospel
As a father of four young children, I’m thankful for Simon’s innovative book and I trust it will lift their eyes to the wonder and truth of Jesus. Wonderfully written and beautifully illustrated this is bound to add some sparkle to your Christmas celebrations.
Guy Mason, Lead Pastor, City on a Hill
A family favourite
When Santa Learned the Gospel is saved from preachiness by Camilleri’s gentle humour, the strength of the two main characters, the playful, unforced rhymes, and the stunning illustrations by Matthew Boutros. The message of Santa turns out to be a brilliant way to explain the goodness gospel, and the true gospel is described with clarity.
This book is a wonderful antidote to the tidal wave of Santa that kids absorb every Christmas through school, the media, and at shopping malls. I wish it had been available when my children were younger, to read together after all those school concerts where we always had to listen to ‘Santa Claus is coming to town’, a song that Simon engages with in his book.
This book will be greatly appreciated by parents who want their kids to grasp the difference between Santa’s message and the gospel. I can imagine it becoming a family favourite that’s read every year, as well as a widely used evangelistic and teaching resource for Sunday Schools, kids’ clubs, and Scripture classes.
Jean Williams, The Gospel Coalition Australia
