As you know HMBC'ers have begun to take a stand to make this a Christmas worth remembering. The conspiracy is afoot and you are invited to join us! This Christmas season we invite you to be a part of the Christmas Conspiracy [spend less] Challenge. This is a 3 part challenge:

1)  Give one less gift this year and give the money you would have spent to CBF Global Missions Offering. Instead of buying a loved one another trinket or gift that will only end up in the landfill give a gift that will have an eternal value to it.  100% of the money you give to the CBF Global Missions Offering will go directly to the missionaries in the field who are spreading the true meaning of Christmas. Click here to find out more information on the CBF Global Missions Offering.

 2) Spend less, except where you should spend more. Jesus Christ came to bring true justice to the world. His heart was with the needy, the poor, and the outcast. Take the time this Christmas to search out Fair Trade items, items in which the persons were paid a fair wage for their work. This Christmas attempt to avoid products which are manufactured using slave labor or in sweatshops. Check out World Crafts for a complete line of fair trade items.  You may not need another nativity set, but why not purchase one as a gift because the proceeds will help bring a little justice to a person living in poverty.

 3) Give gifts built around relationships. Christmas is about relationships and not about consumerism. This Christmas give gifts that center around building and strengthening your relationships. Instead of giving a friend yet another coffee mug, why not set up a regular time in which you meet up to drink coffee together. Maybe you know a neighbor who needs help getting to doctors appointments or to the grocery store. You could volunteer your time to help them out. Maybe this Christmas you take the time to connect with friends by writing them a personal note thanking them for their friendship. The possibilities are endless.

There is no need to go into debt and increase the stress of the season looking for the "perfect" gift that is doomed to spend an eternity in the landfill. Instead take the [spend less] challenge and add joy, love, peace, relationships to your Christmas. Give a gift that last for an eternity.give Christ this Christmas.