Do They Know It’s Christmas?

"Do They Know It's Christmas?" is a charity song written in 1984 by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure to raise money for the 1983–1985 famine in Ethiopia. It was first recorded by Band Aid, a supergroup assembled who recorded the song in a single day in London, in November 1984 (including U2’s Bono, 80’s hit group Duran Duran, Phil Collins on drums, and even Kool and the Gang, who happened to be in London). Here are a few lyrics…

It's Christmas time, there's no need to be afraid
At Christmas time, we let in light, and we banish shade

And in our world of plenty we can spread a smile of joy
Throw your arms around the world at Christmas time

But say a prayer, Pray for the other ones
At Christmas time it's hard, but when you're having fun

There's a world outside your window
And it's a world of dread and fear

Where the only water flowing
Is the bitter sting of tears

And the Christmas bells that ring
There are the clanging chimes of doom 

Well tonight thank God it's them instead of you

 And there won't be snow in Africa this Christmas time
The greatest gift they'll get this year is life

 Where nothing ever grows
No rain nor rivers flow

 Do they know it's Christmas time at all?

They hoped to raise $90,000 but raised $10 million in a year. ($30 million today). The success led to several other charity singles, such as "We Are the World" (1985) by USA for Africa, and spin-off charity events, such as Comic Relief and the 1985 Live Aid concert. The song’s title lyric asks a question: Do They Know It's Christmas?

The reality is we live in a world of need. We live in a world of physical need. Moral need. Emotional need. Spiritual need. Lostness. Darkness. The song says, “the greatest gift they'll get this year is life.” The greatest gift you can give someone this Christmas is the gift of the Gospel of Christ.

This month I have gone back and studied a very familiar and often quoted verse: John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”

Our neighbors and the nations are perishing without Jesus. They need the Gospel of Christ. Here is the picture of evangelistic need in the world:  8.67 million people in Virginia - Around 7 million are lost; in America - 363 million people, 350 languages, 14+ religions, 273 million lost; around the World - 59% of the world (4.6 billion) are UNREACHED and 157,690 LOST and dying daily.

This Christmas season let us recommit to God’s mission of making Jesus known among our neighbors and the nations. Thank you for your church advancing the Gospel together with other SBCVirginia churches through the Cooperative Program, and special mission offerings like the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions.

Keep Pressing On! Your brother in Christ,

BRIAN AUTRY
Executive Director
SBC of Virginia