Christmas evangelism in the Welsh valleys

Christmas is a unique time of year where popular culture seems to marry with the Christian experience. For just one month, the stigma of association with the local church is gone. The most hardened atheists decorate their homes and exchange gifts in celebration of the birth of the God they do not believe in.

December is the time that our otherwise secular society loves a little bit of Jesus, something that we at Noddfa Church capitalise on every year.

Carols Under the Arch

For our church, planning for the festivities begins in September when applications to the council go in for our famous Carols Under the Arch. Months of meetings with local councillors, the fire service, police, highways, transport, ambulance services and local businesses take place to build risk assessments and to obtain licences to hold this special event. It has captured the hearts of our nation and has welcomed thousands of visitors.

Throughout the year, the Big Arch is home to abandoned white goods, smoke-filled cars and the odd dog walker - but for one night, a week before Christmas, it is filled with the sound of the gospel. Local brass bands play along with school choirs. In between each performance, the gospel is preached.

Also:

• We have a church Christmas dinner at the beginning of the season that feeds hundreds and welcomes the isolated and vulnerable.
• We organise wreath-making events and Christmas parties for our junior and teen groups.
• Every home in our valley receives a Christmas card from the church (10,000 cards).
• Our church choirs are invited to sing at other events, schools, and care homes.
• As the local pastor, I am invited to speak in Christmas assemblies, bereavement events and council meetings.
• I have dozens of Christmas dinners at various charitable functions.
• Our church goes out to feed the homeless, and we make dozens of hampers in partnership with the local schools for disadvantaged families. Each hamper is filled with gospel literature and invitations to church events.

We take any opportunity given to us to serve, and in serving, new friendships are made, and we as the church are bound closer together by putting our faith into action.

All of this activity is in addition to the more traditional services: Carols by Candlelight in the Chapel, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services.

In December, we do our best to make sure that thousands of people hear the gospel in our valley, and we thank God for the many opportunities. Prayer is essential for this work; we organise extra prayer evenings and a 24-hour prayer rota.

Is it all worth it?

Despite the years of such a heavy December schedule, we are yet to see a single direct “convert” from all of this outreach. So, is it all worth it?

Absolutely! Especially when you understand our intention.

We begin each December knowing that even our best efforts cannot save a single soul; only Jesus can. Our goal then is to simply embrace the opportunities that our culture gives us, to show our valley that there is a vibrant, active church in their area that loves them.

We pray that in our service, people will see that we have a message that really matters: Jesus died for your sins and rose again to give you new life; repent, know His grace, be forgiven, trust Him, and be heaven-bound. We are never disappointed with any opportunity given to share this truth.

As we move into 2026, and the consequences of sin become a reality for some in our valley, they now know exactly where to come to for forgiveness and truth. We are never disappointed in our labours, because our motivation is not in immediate fruit - although this would be a blessing - but a long-term harvest. Nobody in our valley should have an excuse not to know about Noddfa Church or the message of salvation that we proclaim.

Beyond Christmas

You do not need to wait for times in the year when culture catches up with Christianity to do mission (Christmas, Easter, Harvest). You can create cultural spaces for the gospel throughout the year, too.

In February, we held a service in remembrance of a mining disaster in our valley; we got the local school involved and raised money for the council to put up a statue at the place of the tragedy. We also hold “Summer Under the Arch” to mark the end of the school term for our community. During the World Cup or the Olympics, we organise sporting events - any excuse to gather the lost and minister the gospel to them.

This takes time and effort and sacrifice, but if the people in your community were worth Christ’s blood, they are worth our labour. With the right partnerships in the community, schools, councils and local businesses, such meetings can come at very little cost to the church, but can give huge exposure for the gospel.

Please continue to pray for the ongoing outreach in our valley. Noddfa Church is praying for revival right across Wales. May the Lord visit us again this Christmas.