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Planning a Christmas in August Group Experience

Need some ideas for how to plan and organize Christmas in August for your group?

Here’s a plan you can use or adapt for your circumstances!

Planning and Preparation

Begin with a time of prayer for your Christmas in August project.

Select the missionary or missionaries you will gather supplies for and decide which supplies you will gather. You may send several of the same item, a few of the items, or some of all of the items.

Decide where donation drop-off will be.

Set a deadline for donations.

Tell others about your project, including your family, friends, church family, and colleagues. Send out a list of the items you are collecting. Share when and where to leave the gifts.

Get creative as you promote Christmas in August; use social media accounts, post on your church’s website, ask for a special announcement, and place the information in your church bulletins and programs.

Some churches put up Christmas trees, place cards with the requested items on the trees, and invite their members to select an item from the tree.

Decide on a time and place to sort and package items. Assign one or more people to be responsible for shipping the items. Note: Be sure to follow packaging, postage, and shipping guidelines provided on the “Christmas in August Missionary List” page. Some guidelines cover all missionaries. Some missionaries may have specific shipping requirements.

Host a Packing Party

Invite project participants and others to celebrate the work of God through the missionary(ies) you choose, to pray for the missionary(ies), and to pack the items you collected!

This packing party can be low-key or you can include a presentation on the work of the missionary(ies) you chose. You can decorate for Christmas.

Have participants write notes of encouragement or prayer for the missionary to include in the packages. Take a group selfie to include as well!

Pray for the missionaries, their ministries and the people they serve. Pray over the items before you mail them. Pray that the missionaries can use your items to reach people with the gospel message. Encourage participants to continue praying for the missionaries over the next months.