12 Dec 2025
The Real Meaning of Christmas...
Celebrating The Presence That Becomes A Lasting Present.
By Shikha, S.C.M.A. Communications Director
As Christmas draws near, many of us feel the warmth of lights, the echo of carols, the joy of giving. But beyond the songs and celebrations, there lies a deeper rhythm, a reminder of what it truly means that God chose to come near.
For us at S.C.M.A., that reminder stirs something beautiful. The conviction that presence matters. Not just physical presence, but spiritual presence, relational presence, intergenerational presence. Because the love of Christ, the Gospel, isn’t meant to be kept, it’s meant to be shared, passed on, lived out, generation by generation…
Presence: More Than a Tradition, a Responsibility
Christmas began with Someone arriving, not in a palace, but in a humble stable. God stepped into the world not as ruler, but as a child. And through that presence, the world was changed forever.
Likewise, in our work with youth, leaders, older believers, and communities through S.C.M.A., we believe presence, consistent, caring, spirit-led presence, can change lives.
When older believers partner with younger hearts; when wisdom meets passion; when prayer, mentoring, and discipleship happen across generational lines, it creates a bridge where faith is not just taught, but lived, shared, and passed on.
For the Younger Generation : A Place to Belong, Become, and Belief to Build On
Through our Swamp Corps camps, children and teens aged 9–18 come into a space of belonging, fellowship, and spiritual forming. It’s more than games or activities. It’s a chance to encounter God, build relationships, and learn character through community, worship, and discipleship.
In a world where many young believers search for identity and purpose, witnessing faithful older believers, being mentored, encouraged, and supported nurtures roots strong enough to sustain faith through life’s storms.
For the Older Generation : A Chance to Pass the Torch
Some of our beloved, older believers may no longer travel, speak from big stages, or lead churches directly. But their heart, their faith, their calling… is still alive.
Through S.C.M.A. and S.A.L.T., they can become mentors, prayer-warriors, supporters, silent heroes, investing in young lives, supporting camps, offering guidance, and praying for the next generation.
Their presence, though not always physical, becomes a living legacy. Their faith becomes a foundation on which new camps, new leaders, and new generations stand.
Together: A Generational Alliance That Reflects the Heart of Christmas
What if Christmas was more than a single season, but a model for our lives? What if, in the same way God came near to us, we commit to coming near to each other, across generations, across geographies, across cultures?
That’s the heart of S.C.M.A. This season, more than ever, we want to celebrate the gift of presence.
Because when older and younger walk together, guided by the Spirit, rooted in love, humble in service, we see true discipleship. Not confined to one Sunday. Not limited to one culture. But alive, growing, transforming, forever.
What You Can Do This Christmas?
1. Pray for the camps that are being begun, for children, youth, and young leaders to encounter God.
2. Consider supporting S.C.M.A., because your support helps create spaces for belonging, transformation, discipleship across generations, around the world.
3. If you are older and seasoned in faith, invest in a younger believer through mentorship, prayer, encouragement.
4. If you are young, join in, learn, be trained, serve, grow and allow the legacy of faith to live on through you.
Find out more.