"We Are Looking for The Gifts Under the Wrong Tree!"

Jim Wickliffe is the Director of Children's Bible Fellowship. His burden is to reach people through all means available so that they may know and experience the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. He has worked in many areas: Street Evangelism, Bible Clubs, Rallies, Clowning, Teacher Training, and directing Camp Joy (for inner city children). To make disciples of New York City's forgotten fields includes the saving of the poorest of poor, lost, hurting and broken children and their families. The following is taken from CBF's Christmas letter for 2010:

"He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." 2 Cor. 5:21

"Christmas is filled with trees. The other day I watched a half million people as they gazed in awe when the Rockefeller Center tree was lit . . . Traveling the highways the last few weeks you see cars whizzing by with trees tied tightly to their roofs. Kids wait, with excitement and expectation for the gifts to magically appear under the tree. Brave parents are putting presents around their dazzling decorated trees, while the smart ones have their gifts well hidden and locked away. But I'm reminded of what the angel of the Lord said to Joseph: 'She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.' Maybe we should be looking under another tree.

"A few weeks ago, we were visiting a Camp Joy home. The children and parents were thrilled about the time the children had spent at camp [during the summer]. One thing led to another and the Holy Spirit directed us to look under another tree, the cross. First the mother didn't realize how much God loved her or how much she was a sinner. She looked to Jesus, who was born to die on the cross, to save her from her sins. Then her husband piped up saying that he didn't want to be one of those 'fake' Christians. While I was holding Melvin's hands, with tears in his eyes he turned from his sin and received Jesus' forgiveness. Soon the oldest sister, with whom some of our staff have been serving for some time in a program for troubled young ladies, wanted Jesus as her own Savior. Our Dear Lord obliged her. Joy was over abundant. It extended all the way from Heaven to that little apartment in the Bronx. Together the whole family gathered praying and giving praise to Jesus for saving them and giving them the gift of eternal life.

"This Christmas may I suggest giving some gifts from under the other tree?

• Give God the gift of searching our hearts for any offensive way, so we can reconnect with our eternal Friend more intimately. (Psa. 139:23-24)


• . . . Give others that have hurt us deeply the gift of being forgiven. (Matt. 6:14-15)


• Give others that we have hurt a gift; ask for their forgiveness. (Matt. 5:23-24)

"This Christmas, all of our CBF staff wishes you and those that you love dearly; a grace-filled celebration while together we give gifts from under that other Tree! Merry Christmas!

"Jim [Wickliffe]
"Matt. 1:21"