Advent is coming! Let Free A Family mothers, fathers, and children connect you to the the reason for the season through World Renew’s Advent Calendar.
Galations 3:26-29 says "So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise."
This Advent connect to the families who represent World Renew's Free A Family program. They are real people, with real hopes and dreams. They are mum and dads, children, brothers and sisters. They are just like you and me. And just like you and me, they have hope because of Christ's presence in their lives. How wonderful that Christ was born!
Receive the daily Advent Calendar reveal by email
Accompany the Advent Calendar with the Advent Devotional
Click today's date below to meet a Free A Family father, mother, or child
and to discover a relevant Advent activity for your family!
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Day One – Pray
Scripture Reading: Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for, that she has received from the LORD's hand double for all her sins. A voice of one calling: "In the desert prepare the way for the LORD ; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God. Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain. And the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all mankind together will see it. For the mouth of the LORD has spoken." ~Isaiah 40:1-5
Meet Mim Hanif. Mim is ten years old. She is second grade and is learning science, math, English, and social studies. She lives in Bangladesh.
Mim's parents, Muhammeed and Shahanaj, are learning new skills through World Renew's Free A Family program. They are expanding their tailoring business and starting a new shop. They want to make sure their children receive an education because of their hard work, and sometimes they give things up they would like to have so that Mim can go to school.
Pray for Mim and her family today! What small thing could you give up today to support families like the Hanif family?
Day 2 – Share
Scripture Reading: How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, "Your God reigns!" Listen! Your watchmen lift up their voices; together they shout for joy. When the LORD returns to Zion, they will see it with their own eyes. Burst into songs of joy together, you ruins of Jerusalem, for the LORD has comforted his people, he has redeemed Jerusalem. ~Isaiah 52:7-9
Meet Mohona Hanif. She loves it when her mom, Shahanaj, reads to her.
Shahanaj could not always read. She was a school dropout. But through World Renew she joined a women’s group and signed up for a literacy class. For eight months she faithfully attended classes and did her homework. She learned to read!
Consider turning off all your screens tonight and spend the time reading together instead. Share your favourite poem, children’s story, or Bible story with each other and celebrate God’s gift of storytelling.
Day 3 – Reflect
Scripture Reading: You who bring good tidings to Zion, go up on a high mountain. You who bring good tidings to Jerusalem, lift up your voice with a shout, lift it up, do not be afraid; say to the towns of Judah, "Here is your God!" See, the Sovereign LORD comes with power, and his arm rules for him. See, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him. He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young. ~Isaiah 40:9-11
Meet Ibrahim and Lydia Onchenge in Kenya. They have faced many challenges in life.
Many years ago Ibrahim had a road accident and lost one of his legs. Then in 2007 their home was burned down when there was violence in the region where they lived. For a year they lived in a camp. Then four years ago they settled in Blue-Banita Gichagi village, where they built a small mud home. Recently World Renew began working in their community, teaching new farming techniques and encouraging the raising of small animals, so that the Onchenge family can be more sure of having food every day and also income.
Reflect on the kinds of challenges your family faces sometimes. While you and your family may not struggle with poverty the way the Onchenge family does, there are surely some challenges that might need praying about. Pray alone, or pray together with your loved ones.
p.s. wondering what small animals the Onchenges have? They have chickens, goats, and bunny rabbits! You can give the gift of a small animal in honor of a loved one through World Renew's Gift Catalog… check it out! US | Canada
More about the Onchenge Family
Day Four – Connect
Scripture Reading: A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him– the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord. ~Isaiah 11:1-2
Meet Omariba and James, the two oldest brothers in the Onchenge family. They have very different personalities! Omariba is a clown and likes to goof around. James is quiet and studious. Still, they find ways to connect by playing games and by helping their father with the work on their farm.
Think about a way you can connect with a loved one today. Is it a brother, sister, or friend who’s near by? If it's someone who's at home with you, maybe you could play a game together. Or if it is someone who lives far away, send a Christmas card, write an email, or call them today!
Day Five – Watch
Scripture Reading: I will sing of the LORD's great love forever; with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations. I will declare that your love stands firm forever, that you established your faithfulness in heaven itself. You said, "I have made a covenant with my chosen one, I have sworn to David my servant, 'I will establish your line forever and make your throne firm through all generations.'
Take two minutes to watch a day in the life of the Onchenge family!
Reach out to families in East Africa through Free A Family®! This year we'd like to reach 300 more families in need by December 31st. Will you join us?
Day Six – Think Big
Scripture Reading: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. ~John 1:1-4
The whole Onchenge family was once displaced and living in a camp for “Internally Displaced People” for an entire year.
Right now World Renew is helping to meet the needs of Syrian refugees providing food assistance, emergency supplies, bedding, cooking tools, heating fuel, and rental assistance to 2,000 displaced families still in Syria, who have been forced from their homes by the conflict. $65 would buy a month’s supply of food for a Syrian refugee family.
Think of something big on your Christmas list that you might give up this year in order to help others. Your sacrifice could make a world of difference to someone in your neighborhood or someone a world away.
If you like you may support World Renew’s Syria Conflict response at www.worldrenew.net/syriaconflict.
Day Seven – Pray
Scripture Reading: Tell him this is what the LORD Almighty says: 'Here is the man whose name is the Branch, and he will branch out from his place and build the temple of the LORD. It is he who will build the temple of the LORD, and he will be clothed with majesty and will sit and rule on his throne. And he will be a priest on his throne. And there will be harmony between the two.' ~Zechariah 6:12-13
Meet Samuel Fuentes. He lives in a village called Estancia in the Philippines. He is dad to Joshua and Samantha. In 2013 Typhoon Haiyan wiped out their home. Since then they have been living in a shelter, but now they must give up that temporary home too, because the person who owns the land the shelter is on wants the land cleared so that a resort can be built. Now Samuel and the children live in a tent close to his brother’s.
World Renew is helping Samuel build up his fish market, and are also providing counselling to him.
Please pray for Samuel and the children, especially because a new typhoon –Typhoon Hagupit – swept the Philippines yesterday. Pray for safety and for a new home for Samuel, Joshua, and Samantha, and give thanks for your own home this Advent.
Day 8 – Give Up
Scripture Reading: The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God–children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God. ~John 1:9-13
Joshua Fuentes is eleven, and his sister Samantha is nine. We don’t know if they think living in a tent is fun right now.
Give up your bed for a night; set up a tent or make a tent out of chairs and blankets, make it as cozy as you can, and sleep there tonight or for a couple of nights. Imagine living this way for a month or two or more.
If you could give something up to help families recover from typhoons like Haiyan or like Hagupit this past weekend, what would it be?
Help World Renew respond to disasters through the Gift Catalog! You can choose from items like tarps, strong tents, emergency supplies, water, and permanent houses. Think about getting a group together to pool your funds.
Gift Catalog US | Gift Catalog Canada
Day Nine – Share
Scripture Reading: A voice of one calling: “In the wilderness prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain. And the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all people will see it together. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken." ~ Isaiah 40:3-5
Meet Galdji Lompo. He lives in the village of Yalwa, West Africa, with his wife and children. Galdji does many things… he even makes furniture. He has also planted two fields of rice using a method he learned from World Renew. He is seeing a big difference: using the new method is producing more rice than before. Now Galdji shares what he has learned with his farmer’s group.
Share something you learned today – big or small – with your family or with a loved one!
Day 10 – Reflect
Advent Prayer: God of angels and sheep, God of the poor and meek, in these days before Christmas, quiet us so we may hear where new life is struggling to be born, slow our rush so we may hear the faint sound of angel wings and the words whispered in hope. Open our hearts to the wonder of Immanuel God with us. Amen.
Loutta Lompo, Galdji’s daughter, is 11.
Like her brothers and sisters, she has certain chores that she does to help her family. Her favourite chore is to take her family’s sheep (purchased with a loan through World Renew) and her church’s sheep (given as a tithe) to graze. Then she can sit peacefully in the shade of a tree and relax for a little while… even though sometimes she has to chase a sheep and bring it back. When the sheep are fat enough from grazing they will be sold at the market. Loutta’s family will then be able to cover some of the family’s ongoing costs like food, and education for the children.
Imagine being a shepherd as a teenager. What would you dream about as your sheep safely graze? What hopes do you have for your family and for your life? How does Christ’s birth make a difference to you when you think about what you want to do?
Day 11 – Connect
Scripture Reading: The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him–the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord. ~Isaiah 11:2
Ana and Toma Lompo live in West Africa. Ana is thirteen, and Toma is eight.
During the rainy season there is a plant that grows that has leaves that can be eaten. Ana and Toma pick the leaves and sell them. Sometimes they can earn almost $20 in one day! That is a lot of money for some leaves! They usually use the money to buy some rice for the family or to pay for school expenses.
Ana and Toma are not that different than you or me. What things do you do to make extra money? Do you buy something you need with it? Is there a difference you could make with the money you earn?
Day Twelve – Watch
Scripture Reading: In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him, and his place of rest will be glorious. ~Isaiah 11:10
Take two minutes to watch a day in the life of the Lompo family!
World Renew hopes to reach 300 more families through Free A Family by December 31st.
Will you join us?
Day 13 – Advocate
Scripture Reading – Psalm 8: 3-6
3 When I consider your heavens,
the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
which you have set in place,
4 what is mankind that you are mindful of them,
human beings that you care for them?
5 You have made them a little lower than the angels
and crowned them with glory and honor.
6 You made them rulers over the works of your hands;
you put everything under their feet
Many people in the Lompo family’s village have cut down trees for firewood or to make charcoal to sell. After many years of this, there are now few trees left.
Deforestation is a problem in West Africa. Galdji Lompo and his community group learned through World Renew trainings that “God doesn’t want us to kill all the trees by cutting them down. He wants us to take care of them.” After this training, Galdji and his group went to the Environmental Services Department and convinced them to make it illegal to cut down trees and sell the wood near their village. He also left a few trees in his field instead of clearing the area like usual. Guess what: the crops he planted near the trees produced a better harvest than those that weren’t near trees!
Is there a way you could advocate for the environment in 2015? Maybe you could make a New Year’s Resolution early! Check out this website for good advocacy ideas.
Day 14 – Pray
Advent Carol: Come, Thou long expected Jesus, born to set Thy people free; from our fears and sins release us, let us find our rest in Thee. Israel’s Strength and Consolation, hope of all the earth Thou art; dear desire of every nation, joy of every longing heart. (v.1 Come Thou Long Expected Jesus)
Meet Velinasi and Fidelis Khoma in Mozambique! They have six children. They used to farm tobacco, but they returned to growing maize after they joined a World Renew farmers group and learned about improvements they could make. Now they are growing tomatoes, beans, and onions too, at the edge of a stream. If they are able to get a treadle pump through a World Renew program they will be able to irrigate their maize fields.
Pray for the Khoma family and give thanks for their harvest this year!
Day 15 – Give Up
Advent Carol: Born thy people to deliver, born a child and yet a King, born to reign in us forever, now thy gracious kingdom bring. By thine own eternal spirit rule in all our hearts alone; by thine all sufficient merit, raise us to thy glorious throne. (v.2 Come Thou Long Expected Jesus)
The Khoma family relies on a bicycle for every day tasks, like going back and forth to the market and fetching water. This one bicycle is shared by all the family members.
They are saving money to buy a motorbike. Fidelis Khoma, Ricardo's dad, says a motorbike will save time, and will also be useful if someone falls sick and needs to be taken to the hospital. It's a practical answer to meeting every day, practical needs.
What could you give up this year, on your own, or together with your family and friends, to make someone else's life easier? What you give up may not be something that costs money… it may be time spent on something you ordinarily do for yourself, to do something for someone else you care about. Many people around us carry heavy burdens that we may not even be really aware of. Observe, and be creative!
Day 16 – Share
Advent Carol: Lo, how a Rose e’er blooming from tender stem hath sprung! Of Jesse’s lineage coming, as men of old have sung. It came, a floweret bright, amid the cold of winter, When half spent was the night. ~Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming, v.1
Even though Velinasi works in the fields too, she shoulders the majority of the household tasks, such as cooking. She stresses that her work is not easy and can be very difficult.
In North American households at this time of year, Christmas preparations can make life extra busy for moms, and dads too. Think of ways you can share household chores among family members, to give Mom & Dad a break. Maybe you can even cook a meal!
Day 17 – Reflect
Advent Carol: Isaiah ’twas foretold it, the Rose I have in mind; With Mary we behold it, the virgin mother kind. To show God’s love aright, she bore to men a Savior, When half spent was the night.
This is Esta Khoma. She is holding a bowl full of juicy, ripe tomotoes; she is taking them home to her mother to cook. Her parents say that her and her siblings’ educations are a priority, but that they should also know how to farm. “Even if my children ultimately become teachers, they should continue to farm in order to feed themselves.”
Reflect on how you think you might make a living some day. Do you think it might make sense for you also to know how to grow food?
Day 18 – Connect
Advent Carol: The shepherds heard the story proclaimed by angels bright, How Christ, the Lord of glory was born on earth this night. To Bethlehem they sped and in the manger found Him, As angel heralds said. ~Lo How a Rose E'er Blooming, v.3
Fidelis proudly strides out to the family’s fields with Andris, Esther, and Ricardo. They are going to check on their crops!
Reflect on the kind of daily involvement do you have with your family. Think of something you can do together in the morning, in the afternoon, or at night! Being together away from television, computer screens, tablets, or smart phones, results in a completely different kind of experience.
Day 19 – Watch
Advent Carol: This Flower, whose fragrance tender with sweetness fills the air, Dispels with glorious splendor the darkness everywhere; True Man, yet very God, from sin and death He saves us, And lightens every load. ~Lo How a Rose E'er Blooming, v.4
Take two minutes to watch a day in the life of the Khoma family!
Help us reach 300 more families! Join Free A Family in Southern Africa
Day 20 – Advocate
Advent Carol: O Savior, Child of Mary, who felt our human woe, O Savior, King of glory, who dost our weakness know; Bring us at length we pray, to the bright courts of Heaven, And to the endless day! ~Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming v.5
Has it rained or snowed for you in the last 165 days? Was there at least a drizzle – enough to dampen the soil? Even in the US, rainfall has been scarce in places – like in California for instance.
In Mozambique the Khoma family has gone for 165 days without rain. The dry season seems to last longer, maybe due to climate change. But farming must go on. Fidelis has learned to apply compost and cover the fields with grass. The grass acts as a sunscreen, conserving soil moisture. He waters the garden daily with his watering can.
You can advocate for the environment too, by making lifestyle adjustments! Try using less water for one day… wash dishes by hand instead of using the dishwasher, take a shorter shower… what other things can you think of?
Day 21 – Pray
Advent Carol: Love divine, all loves excelling, Joy of heaven to earth come down, Fix in us thy humble dwelling, All thy faithful mercies crown; Jesus, thou art all compassion, Pure unbounded love thou art, Visit us with thy salvation, Enter every trembling heart. ~Love Divine, All Loves Excelling v.1
Meet the Mejia Avila family! Roberto, the father, is the family’s primary farmer. He is very excited because the rainfall has been consistent and the crops have gotten enough water to grow. This means there will be plenty of food to meet the family’s needs! Earlier this year there was not enough rain and most of the family’s crops failed. A good crop this season is very important.
Pray for a good crop!
Day 22 – Give Up
Advent Carol: Come, Almighty to deliver, Let us all thy life receive, Suddenly return, and never, Never more thy temples leave. Thee we would be always blessing, Serve thee as thy hosts above, Pray, and praise thee without ceasing, Glory in thy perfect love. ~Love Divine, All Loves Excelling v.3
Gerson Mejia Avila is in Grade Nine. He and younger brother Noel are deepening their studies by taking two classes in a nearby town on a weekend afternoon! One class is in English, the other is in computers.
Would you give up time on the weekend to learn something new? What might that be?
Day 23 – Watch
Advent Carol: Comfort, comfort ye my people, Speak ye peace, thus saith our God; Comfort those who sit in darkness, Mourning 'neath their sorrows' load; Speak ye to Jerusalem Of the peace that waits for them,Tell her that her sins I cover, And her warfare now is over. ~ Comfort, Comfort Ye My People v.1
Day 24 – Reflect
Christmas Carol: Joy to the world! the Lord is come! Let earth receive her King; Let every heart prepare him room, And heav'n and nature sing. ~Joy to the World v.1
Tonight the Mejia Avila family celebrates the arrival of Christmas by staying up until midnight. They eat special foods like “tamales”, which are made from corn dough stuffed with meat & vegetable sauce and then wrapped and tied in banana leaves and boiled in water. Click here for the recipe!
How do you and your family traditionally celebrate Christmas Eve?
Day 25 – Connect
Advent Carol: He rules the world with truth and grace, And makes the nations prove The glories of his righteousness, And wonders of his love. ~Joy to the World v.4
Thank you for participating in this year's Advent Calendar! Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!