On November 4th 2003, I attended a N.E. Minneapolis Chamber of Commerce Christmas decorations planning meeting to plan the holiday decorations for Central Avenue, from 18th Avenue to 26 Avenue N.E.
I suggested that we hang out signs on our light posts that say “Merry Christmas”, since it’s a Christian holiday. I was told that, “we couldn’t do that because we are too diverse a society”. The decision was that we would hang out snowflakes instead, on every other light post, and that we would light the trees.
I felt troubled and asked Jesus what I could do to make a difference.
First I thought of having a larger manger scene in front of our office building. Then I felt that we would put up a hard-hitting evangelistic message along with our 24-hour crisis and prayer line telephone number for people to respond.
From Menards, a local building supply store with a large Christmas display department, I bought five ‘Merry Christmas’ light-up signs and four light-up angel displays. I installed them around our building.
When our Northeast Minneapolis Chamber of Commerce has the trees lit up, with white lights, and have the light posts decorated with snowflakes, I believe they will highlight our Christmas message. I believe this is God’s way of using the secularization of Christmas to His advantage, of putting more light on His message for all mankind.
I felt that other Christian businessmen on Central Avenue could put up Merry Christmas and angel light-up signs. Some could even put up evangelistic messages and give out their own telephone number, their church’s number or our number. Our goal is to have as many businesses as possible put up Merry Christmas signs by the time our avenue is lit up for the holidays, so Christmas and Jesus will be lifted up with an evangelistic message.
Also, we want to do this in Columbia Heights, the suburb next to us. Then if we can do this here, why can’t God do this in every community in the Twin City metro area. In addition, this can be done in office parks and shopping centers.
This can be done in every metro area and community in the United States and the world. We are already approaching the 58 cities in our Association of Christian Crisis Centers. E-mail us and let us know what God is dong with this concept in your community.
E-mail me at counselor@lovelines.org for more information.
Dan Morstad
Love Lines Crisis Center
612-379-1199