How could an evening that featured exchanging gifts and Christmas goodies be Christ-centered at the same time? It is not hard to imagine if you attended the Pendergraph Christmas Exchange Party. Over a hundred women gathered with gorgeous packages of all shapes and sizes to participate in the exchange, eager to take home four new items in return. Karen Cheong explained how the exchange would be run, as well as how the ladies present could use a party like this in their own homes as an evangelistic outreach during the Christmas season.

Between the exciting hustle and bustle of choosing from the excellent assortment of gifts, ladies enjoyed delicious party foods provided by the faculty wives of SBTS. Those gracious faculty wives blessed us all with their generous contributions to the evening - seen not only on the food and gift tables, but also in their kind words of encouragement to the other women present. Mrs. Allison particularly blessed us with her devotional about Christ, and how He is a Giver not an exchanger. She exhorted us to draw near to Him even though we have nothing to give Him in exchange.

Our evening concluded with beautiful Christ-centered carols, lead by our worship leader, Rachel. Ladies joined in a central song with 7 verses and antiphons in between - “O Come, Immanuel”. Our eyes were lifted up away from the dazzle of worldly pleasures and fixed on the Giver and Good Gift who is the Center of all Joy.

A special thanks to our faculty liason, Karen Cheong, for organizing this original and exciting event. This may be a Pendergraph tradition for years to come!