What the Christmas story reveals about discipleship today

By Dawn Dawson and Vonda DenBoer, Canada East Mission Centre Co-Presidents

We are grateful for your continued commitment to the mission of Christ. Each one of you is important, loved, and uniquely gifted. You are an essential witness of discipleship, and what you say and do truly makes a difference. While individual impact can be remarkable, it is when two or three gather in Christ’s name that our mission is blessed and the potential to transform the world is multiplied. As we approach the celebration of his birth in just a few short weeks, may Christ remain the focus of our ministry and the centre of all we do.

Each year, we tell and retell the story—the mystery, the wonder, the urgency; the crowded town with no lodging; the angels, shepherds, and wise men. We weave the story together in awe that the Creator of all would choose such humility, entering humanity as a vulnerable child.

Neither Joseph nor Mary could have imagined giving birth in a stable among animals, far from the support of family. The shepherds responded without hesitation. Those first witnesses left their flocks and risked danger as they hurried to see the newborn King. The learned sages, guided by prophecy and stars, prepared and journeyed great distances to greet a king born in a foreign land. What the people expected of a king was nothing like what they found that holy night. God entered our story not with power, prestige, or money, but through risk, mystery, faith, and abiding self-giving love.

In Christ, we see both ourselves and the nature and will of God. Christ redefined community by drawing near to the unclean, the forgotten, the oppressed, and the marginalized. He announced his mission: to bring good news to the poor, release to the captives, sight to the blind, freedom to the oppressed, and to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour. When we compare Luke 4:18–19 to Isaiah 61:1–2, we notice what Christ left out—vengeance.

In today’s world, Christ’s mission can feel distant, yet its fulfillment depends on us. We are called to be voices of hope, bearers of peace, justice, and healing. We trust the Holy Spirit to grant us the courage and wisdom to do this sacred work. Discipleship requires that we, too, risk and trust. We travel onward together as we risk something new. When we are unsure of the right next step, guideposts help us find our way.

In June, Prophet-President Stacey Cram outlined guideposts for our shared journey. She invites us to continuously discern what matters most; to focus our resources on mission, leadership, and faithful stewardship; to foster spiritually grounded, prophetically bold leaders; and to reflect, evaluate, and respond as God leads.

As you prepare for this Christmas season, may these guideposts shape your path as you follow the mission of Christ. And may the path we share in 2026, along with our friends in Canada West, be filled with joy, hope, love, and peace.