So the holidays are here once again. And between the mistletoe and eggnog, office parties and Clapper commercials, it's the time of year where the church puts on their best efforts to reach the non-churched. According to popular research, 50% of Americans go to church just twice a year, that being for Christmas and Easter (25% of Americans go to a religious service weekly, and the other 25% spend Sunday morning sitting on their Lazy Boy instead of on a wooden pew). But back to the Christmas-Easter Church-goers: if these individuals only go to church twice a year, then there's only two sermons that they ever hear. The first being that Jesus was born, and the other being that He died on the cross. In other words, they hear that Jesus is responsible for fruitcake and chocolate bunnies.

So when will these people ever get to hear everything else Christ did? The stuff that helps you with the daily grind? It's time to clue the non-churched in on what Christianity is about the other 363 days of the year.

If you are inviting a friend to church for the holidays, be sure to tell them how you enjoy the gift of Christmas everyday of the year. No, not the fruitcake or your Chia Pet, but the strength, peace and power Christ gives you everyday. For instance, how your Christian faith gives you peace during this funky economy. Or if you have lost a job during this time, how you still haven't lost hope, thanks to your faith. Or, how your relationship with Christ makes it possible for you to grin and bear it, with your gossiping neighbor, brutal boss, alcoholic brother, or even with your teens or toddlers. Or, how Christ gave you the willpower to kick a bad habit or help you the start a healthy one.

But don't wait until the most stressful time of year to invite a friend to a church. The lull months of the winter might be a better opportunity (ya know, the time between the mistletoe and the marshmallow peeps). Invite someone to your Bible study or to a seeker friendly Saturday night service. Or, for an effective outreach after a big snowfall, put on your scarves and shovel driveways of single mothers, the elderly, or others in your community who could use a helping hand. It's a great way to show people the love of Christ and burn off a bit of that eggnog as well.

So remember, to many non-church goers, Christmas church service is just like fruitcake. It's something they expect every holiday, that looks the same year after year, but is something they really don't think about on a daily basis. So don't wait until Christmas to reach the non-churched. Make them understand the importance of Christmas everyday.

_{Want to learn fresh ways to share your Christian faith with non-believers every day of the year? Click here}