Shine Your Light 2024: Sharing the good news together

Major Paul Robinson introduces a national ecumenical initiative to share the light this Christmas.

Is there anything not to like about Christmas? Cards, gifts, family, turkey and all the trimmings, mince pies – admittedly, the dreaded Brussels sprout could be left off the list. There is light and fun and music. It’s beautiful. Yet, Christmas can be lonely and sad for some. Is there not an in-between Christmas to be had?

Last year, a soap actor was passing the band and said to me that we had made her Christmas. That struck me. What Christians have to offer does not rely on expensive gifts, food or parties, it relates to making the message of Christmas a reality.

The Salvation Army has a rich heritage of living out and sharing the message of Christmas through practical service and Christian ministry in every conceivable place. Christians have taken the message of Immanuel to Army halls, churches, schools, hospitals, hospices, prisons. Even the streets of our nation have heard the declaration of the Church: ‘Mild he lays his glory by,/ Born that man no more may die,/ Born to raise the sons of earth,/ Born to give them second birth’ (SASB 108).

If all our efforts help bring one person to faith this year, Heaven will be filled with rejoicing. For the second year running, Shine Your Light wants all Christians of every denomination to be involved. Friday 13 to Sunday 15 December has been set aside to encourage all Christians to share the light this Christmas.

Activities do not have to be that weekend. As Salvationists, we love to fill the whole of Advent with opportunities to make someone’s Christmas. Why not invite fellow Christians who are not so used to being so public, or those from smaller churches who might not have the resources to do? what we so readily do. If your band is playing in the street, invite the church down the road to provide voices or hand out leaflets introducing Immanuel, God with us.

Last year, Shine Your Light saw more than 75,000 Christians taking out the message of Christmas. This year, the vision is to mobilise more than 100,000 Christians to make an even bigger impact. Imagine bringing Christmas to everyone in your community. We cannot do it on our own but, together, we can do so much.

Paul told the early Church: ‘Each person is given something to do that shows who God is: Everyone gets in on it, everyone benefits. All kinds of things are handed out by the Spirit, and to all kinds of people!’ (1 Corinthians 12:4–11 The Message).

What activities are you involved in? Share them, let others join the fun and make Christmas for everyone. Together, public activities, community activities and events in our halls, schools, hospitals, hospices, prisons and streets can make such a difference.

If your neighbour is struggling, pop around and share a cup of tea, a mince pie, half an hour of your time. If you’re struggling, invite someone to share the message of Christmas with you. If you believe that Christmas can be a time of revival and growth, pray. Pray for your community, your corps, your family, yourself.

I have a vision where every corps, Lifehouse, charity shop and headquarters will be a shining beacon, making Christmas for everyone. And there are thousands more Christians who want to join us – and want us to join them. Let’s make the most significant impact the nation has ever seen.