Green Pastures Touches the Hearts of Community Children

At a time when Christmas appears unaffordable for many families and times are tough, the evangelical church Green Pastures provided joy, hope, and presents for hundreds of children from Ballymena last Friday evening from 7-9 pm.

Holding their Christmas Big Church Night In Party, many struggling families and their children streamed through the doors to enjoy festive treats, entertainment, and even a visit from the leading man - Santa.

But the evening wasn't just for children. Many adults also enjoyed the Christmas Big Church Night In event, especially the beautifully prepared food with coffee, mince pies and a mini-Christmas market outside serving hamburgers, festive creps with all the toppings, toasting marshmallows over an open fire and even a movie room with a children's Christmas movie.

The Church's Facebook page read: "What a way to spend a night. There's nothing sweeter than packing out the house and being together as we ate, drank, chatted, watched, laughed, played, danced, caught up with old friends, made some new ones and, best of all, heard the Christmas story of Jesus. This is Church!

Shauni McDowell wrote, "Kids had a lovely time, thank you," while Paul Stephens added, "That was the BEST night in." 

Several weeks before the party, invites were handed out and given to many young families in the town of Ballymena. The idea was to open the church's doors to the community and members, enabling everyone to enjoy the spirit of Christmas and hear the story of Jesus. It proved just the ticket in a time of economic hardship, even despair.

No fewer than one hundred and fifty children from the Ballee area crammed into the specially prepared craft room and gingerbread room before hearing the Christmas story and getting a Christmas present from Santa.

Commented one delighted mother, "We wouldn't have been able to afford to get a picture taken with Santa at a shopping centre, so to get one for free and be looked after in so many other ways proved a godsend."

So successful was the evening the church had to send their little Elf to the local supermarket for more selection boxes and gifts. The event ended with a wave of goodbye and a snow machine, giving the children hope that Christmas 2022 would be all white.