We had powerful Christmas Services and Ministries this past weekend at our Celebration Campuses. Even though the weather was frigid (for New Orleanians) throughout the weekend, we had lots of “warmth” in our Christmas services as we celebrated in worship and message the coming of Jesus to our world, as we had special times with our children, and as we led people to either receive Jesus as their Savior or rededicate their lives to Him.

Our Celebration Congregations were also involved in recent days and weeks in lots of ministry activities. Here are some of the highlights from recent days.

• Our Kenner Congregation was involved in collecting gifts for the Angel Tree ministry, which provides Christmas gifts for Children whose parents are incarcerated.

• Our Lower St Bernard Campus hosted a special time for their Community that included a Children’s Play and a live Petting Zoo, and hundreds of people showed for the event.

• Our Metairie-New Orleans Campus hosted a large Christmas gathering for Senior Adults, and provided Caroling Teams to encourage young and older adults at Christmas.

• Our River Parishes Campus had a great Angel Tree Gift Giveaway, blessing over 60 children whose parents are incarcerated with Christmas gifts.

• Our St Bernard/9th Ward Campus was involved in tarping roofs for homes that were damaged by the recent tornadoes, and hosted a big toy give-away for their community.

Our other Campuses were also involved in a variety of ministry activities in the past couple of weeks. When I think about how difficult this year has been financially for so many people because of the rapid rising cost of inflation, I’m blown away by the generosity of our people. On behalf of all who have been ministered to in recent weeks, I want to say “thank you” for being such a generous and loving Church family.

In spite of all of the challenges our Church family has experienced throughout the year, the Lord has worked mightily in, for and through the Celebration Congregation in 2022. Check out this 2022 End Of The Year Letter HERE that tells us about some of the incredible things that the Lord has done in, for and through the Celebration Church in 2022, and includes testimonies of the Lord’s transforming power in people’s lives.

Several of my favorite Scripture passages in the Bible are found in 2 Corinthians 8. In 2 Corinthians 8:1-3 the Apostle Paul was bragging on Christians in Macedonia. He wrote:

• “I want you to know, dear brothers and sisters, what God in His kindness has done through the churches in Macedonia. They are being tested by many troubles, and they are very poor. But they are also filled with abundant joy, which has overflowed in rich generosity.” (2 Corinthians 8:1-2)

Those Christians in Macedonia were going through tough times, like many people are going through right now in our region and world. And yet they gave generously to support God’s work because of their love for the Lord and their love for people. And then Paul wrote these words:

• “You know the generous grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, so that by His poverty He could make you rich.” (2 Corinthians 8:9)

Paul was saying that Jesus left the riches and glory of Heaven to come to our earth and sacrificed His life so that He could make us “rich” by forgiving our sins, changing our lives, welcoming us into God’s family, and granting us eternal life in Heaven. And because of who Jesus is and what He’s done, we should be willing and wanting to give generously to help continue His ministry in our region and all around the world.

If you’re grateful for who Jesus is and what He’s done for you, give generously this week to support the Lord’s work through Celebration Church. Please give generously to our regular Church ministry budget and give also to our Everyone Needs Jesus Christmas Missions offering.
Also, gifts of stocks, property, jewelry, etc. can also be given as well. Make sure to give your gifts by midnight on 12/31 in order to receive Charitable Giving contribution credit for 2022.

I’m so grateful for God’s love, that prompted Him to send Jesus into our world and into our lives (John 3:16). And I’m so grateful for your love as well as we serve the Lord together and support His work locally, nationally and all around the world.