Church family,

I hope you are having a wonderful start to the month of December. It certainly feels like the Christmas season here in Houston! I'm encouraging you as I encouraged our staff this week to take some time to slow down each day and really take in this Advent season. It's so easy to get caught up in the busyness of the holidays. We all have Christmas parties to attend, shopping to get done, travel plans to make, and if we're not careful we can allow this month to go by and never be intentional about celebrating the birth of Christ on a personal level. If your family is anything like mine, to carve out this time means waking up early before the day gets going to spend time alone with God. If you need help with where to start, click here and start a reading plan today.

Also, if you are looking for a family devotional of some kind, we partnered with RightNow Media this year and just released this four-week Advent devotional. Many in our church are doing this in their Life Group. It's also a great resource to watch with your family and have discussion and prayer afterward. Speaking of prayer, our First Saturday Prayer is this week in the Chapel at our Champions Campus from 8:00am to 9:00am. We would love for you to join us in this prayer time.

December is a month of giving, and today is Giving Tuesday. You will probably receive texts and emails from different organizations that you support throughout the year. Giving is a spiritual discipline and we know the Bible teaches that it is more blessed to give than to receive. If you’re able, we encourage you to make a special gift to your church. God is moving in incredible ways here at Champion Forest, and your generosity helps us continue to make disciples, love our community, and strengthen the Church. We simply could not fulfill the mission God is calling us to without your generosity. As you think about giving today, consider investing in the work of Christ through Champion Forest. You can give here.

Finally, I want to thank our team for working so diligently to prepare for Christmas Spectacular. This year's show is going to be incredible! If you haven't gotten your tickets, you can purchase them here. Please be in prayer that many people would come to know Christ during this year's celebration. We are expecting over 30,000 people to be on our campus attending the Christmas Spectacular and we plan on sharing the hope of Christ at the end of each performance. Please pray with us that many would come to know Jesus.

Thank you, Champion Forest, for all you are doing to advance the Kingdom of God in Northwest Houston and around the world. I pray this is your best Christmas ever!

Pastor Jarrett