Bonfire on Christmas Eve helps reach out to unsaved
ST. LOUIS—Every year Fellowship Church of St. Louis hosts an outdoor Christmas Eve bonfire that has proven to be a popular event.
Lead Pastor Brian Agovino said that having a Christmas Eve service “has always been a part of the culture here.” The bonfire includes Christmas carols, reading the Christmas story and partaking in the Lord’s Supper. Coffee, hot chocolate and warm apple cider are served at the event.
When faced with the dilemma of having some land but no building to have a service, the church came up with the idea for an outdoor service “to celebrate the birth of Christ and reach out to unreached people who would come to an informal Christmas Eve service.”
The bonfire has been embraced by the Fellowship church family.
“Our church body loves the event,” Agovino said. “It helps build our community and family. It has also been a great way to connect with unreached people. We have seen people connect within our community because of the event.”
He added that people like the idea of being outside on Christmas Eve.
“There is something about the concept of the manager and a stable and celebrating the birth of Christ outdoors,” he said. “Also, they come to celebrate with their community.”
Agovino said he hopes that the church body views it “as an opportunity to invite neighbors and family members who are not connected to Christ.”