Faith Facts

• Polling reveals 1.8 million UK adults expect to spend Christmas Day alone, despite not wanting to.
• The Salvation Army sees social isolation as a primary reason people seek church and charitable support.
• Local churches across the UK, in partnership with volunteers, deliver hundreds of Christmas meals and offer community fellowship.

This season, many face loneliness, with almost two million British adults expected to spend Christmas Day in isolation. Faith groups like The Salvation Army are stepping in, offering not just food but fellowship grounded in Christian compassion.

Years without meaningful connection can break spirits, but simple acts—like sharing a cup of tea or a warm meal—remind people of their God-given worth.

“These findings are much more serious than just missing out on festive fun. Connection is a basic human need,”

said Andrew Wileman, representing The Salvation Army.

“For some, the cuppa at their local Salvation Army might be the only meaningful conversation some people have all week.”

He stressed the hidden pain many endure during holidays and urged Christians to watch for neighbors in need, as even those who appear content may carry unseen burdens.

“Whether that’s someone unable to leave their house due to a disability, someone who has shut themselves away because unemployment has led to depression, or someone forced to sleep rough because they have nowhere left to turn,”

Wileman said.

Testimonies reveal how faith-driven outreach changes lives. Steve from Bangor found hope and friendship through Salvation Army volunteers after years of battling depression and avoiding contact.

This Christmas, instead of isolation, he’ll enjoy companionship through the church’s ministry.

Sarah-Jayne from Essex experienced healing and purpose herself after attending The Salvation Army’s groups following cancer recovery. Now she shares Christ’s love with others, serving as a volunteer and finding renewed strength every day.

Across the UK, churches are partnering with hotels and local businesses to serve nourishing Christmas meals, sharing traditional food and the message that everyone belongs in God’s family.

Major Valerie Short, leading a meal delivery in Cardiff, said,

“A simple Christmas meal, something many take for granted, is a powerful reminder that people care. It says, ‘you matter, you are seen, you are not alone.'”

“At The Salvation Army this kind of love is at the heart of everything we do. It’s not just what we believe – it’s belief in action.”

Remember, God calls us to love our neighbors and embody Christ’s hands and feet. This Christmas, reach out to someone in need—your kindness could answer a prayer and bring true hope, reminding all of the enduring source of faith, family, and freedom.

Read more at Christian Today

Faith Facts

• Christmas has been banned at times in Britain and other nations, often due to religious or cultural conflict.
• During the Reformation, some Protestants, especially Puritans, viewed Christmas celebrations as unbiblical and excessive.
• In places like Scotland, England, and Massachusetts, laws prohibited Christmas observances for decades.

Christmas is now a cherished holiday, celebrated with music, lights, and worship, reminding believers of Christ’s birth. Yet, history shows there were times when authorities restricted or prohibited its observance, seeking to enforce moral and doctrinal purity.

In the wake of the Reformation, many Calvinists and Puritans rejected Christmas, seeing it as rooted in non-biblical tradition. Their goal was to remove what they considered Catholic influences and disorderly customs from worship.

Scotland’s Parliament, under Reformation influence, banned Christ’s Mass along with other rituals, considering them unfit for true worship. Punishments were given to those who continued festive activities, reflecting a desire for stricter adherence to Scriptural mandates.

England experienced its own bans, especially under Puritan leadership in Parliament. From the 1640s, laws discouraged and later formally forbade Christmas services and festivities, enforcing penalties and even conducting business as usual on December 25th.

“Town criers had to announce that Christmas Day was not to be observed because it was ‘a superstitious and hurtful custom.'”

Oliver Cromwell’s rule brought new fines and stricter enforcement, but opposition from the people led to riots and widespread resistance. Ultimately, the bans were lifted when King Charles II restored the monarchy in 1660.

Across the Atlantic, Massachusetts Puritans enacted their own bans, penalizing anyone who celebrated Christmas. It was not until the mid-19th century that Christmas was treated as a public holiday in Massachusetts.

Scotland’s ban persisted the longest, and for centuries, observance of Christmas was overshadowed by other celebrations. This history highlights the tension between tradition, faith, and the desire for purity in worship.

The history of Christmas bans reminds us to hold fast to the freedom to worship, protect our Christian heritage, and uphold Biblical truth in the public square. Stay informed and pray for liberty to honor Christ at Christmas and throughout the year.

Read the full article at Christian Today

Faith Facts

• Good News Global will deliver 75,000 “Hope Packs” worldwide in 2024, reaching inmates, correctional staff, and families.
• The ministry partners with chaplains, churches, and donors to offer Gospel-centered encouragement, especially during the Christmas season.
• Each Hope Pack features devotionals, practical items, and a personalized Gospel message to foster spiritual growth among the incarcerated.

This faith-driven outreach seeks to counteract the isolation faced by incarcerated individuals, extending Christian love and practical care to over 170 correctional facilities in the U.S. and 20 nations. The project highlights the calling to serve the forgotten, reminding the incarcerated of their God-given value and dignity.

Good News Global’s chaplains and volunteers foster discipleship and spiritual support throughout the year, emphasizing that all are worthy of redemption in Christ. The ministry’s collaborative effort unites communities, reflecting the biblical calling to “remember those in prison” (Hebrews 13:3).

“Hope Packs represents our greatest direct Gospel outreach to incarcerated people and those impacted by incarceration,” said Jon Evans, president of Good News Global. “We can put the Gospel message in the hands of receptive inmates this Christmas.”

Inmates testify to the power of these resources, expressing how the included devotionals offer comfort and a renewed hope anchored in God’s promises. Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin praised the ministry’s compassion for seeing the value in every individual, echoing scriptural truth that every person bears God’s image and is loved by the Creator.

This growing initiative reminds believers of their biblical mandate to stand with the vulnerable, sharing the joy, peace, and freedom found in Christ even in the darkest places.

Read the full story at The Christian Post