The Gift of Joy: How 300 Children Met the True Meaning of Christmas
On December 30th, 2024, in a quiet corner of Myanmar, the year ended not with fireworks but with a chorus of young voices lifted in joy. Rev. Dorothy Myint and her team gathered nearly 300 children and youth for a special Christmas program—one filled with music, laughter, Scripture, and the simple power of love. Though many of the children arrived with little more than dust on their feet and curiosity in their eyes, they left carrying something far greater: the message of salvation, the warmth of community, and the knowledge that Jesus is the only way to heaven.
The program began with gospel songs—some unfamiliar to the children, but taught with energy and purpose. Volunteers, many of them youth themselves, led the crowd in singing and dancing, the sound of worship echoing through the air like light breaking into darkness. As the children sang, they didn’t just learn melodies—they absorbed truth. Scripture was shared between songs, not as lectures, but as lifelines. Rev. Dorothy spoke with clarity and tenderness, presenting Jesus not as a distant figure, but as the living Savior who knows each child by name. “Only by the grace of God can we share the gospel,” she later said. “But now, these children know the way to heaven—Jesus is the only way.”
The joy didn’t end with the message. Each child received a Christmas gift—food, toys, and tokens of love carefully prepared by the church’s youth, who had spent weeks planning every detail. Their enthusiasm was infectious. “We wanted them to feel the love of Jesus,” one volunteer shared. “In the gifts, the songs, and every smile.” For many children, it was the first time they had ever received a Christmas present. Some clutched their bags with wide-eyed wonder. Others danced with excitement. But beyond the wrapping paper, they received something deeper: a taste of peace, joy, and love—the true essence of Christmas.
What happened that day was more than an event; it was the beginning of something lasting. Children who had never heard the gospel returned days later asking for Bibles. Some began attending youth gatherings, eager to learn more. And the youth who led them? They left even more passionate about spreading the Word. “This wasn’t just a holiday,” Rev. Dorothy reflected. “It was a holy day—God showed up.”
Prayer Points:
- For the 300 children who heard the gospel, that the message would take root in their hearts.
- For the youth volunteers, that their passion to serve continues to grow.
- For Rev. Dorothy and her team, to have strength and resources to continue their ministry.
- For lasting transformation, that Christmas would become more than a memory, but a beginning.
