written by Corrie Kozacek (married to Chris, International Care Pastor and Field Ministry Team Manager for YFCI, mom to Bailey and Brennan)

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The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
~John 1:14 (NIV)

The Word became flesh. Let that sink in for a minute. The God of the entire Universe, the One who created everything that ever was or is, decided to become human. He made His dwelling among us so that He could show people the way to Heaven, so that He could die on the cross for the sins of the world. In the flesh, He loved and ministered to people in a way no one ever had. He cared for the lost, spent time with the poor, and touched the sick. He spoke truth in love and welcomed little children to His lap. He communed with His Father and discipled twelve young men who carried on the most amazing movement this world has ever known. God became flesh. For you. For me.

Many of you know my husband, Chris, who works in the YFC International office. Before I met Chris, I was a YFC missionary in Ghana. When I came home to the United States from Ghana, I worked with a church youth group where I led the youth worship team and discipled teen girls. I eventually went on staff with the church and added missionary care to my ministry duties. I loved being involved in full time ministry. Then I met Chris, got married, and when our first child was born, I became a stay at home mom. I was no longer on the “front lines” of ministry. I was staying home with our son and didn’t have a lot of contact with people. Slowly I made some friends who also had little ones at home, but life was very different. Then we had a second child, and for the next few years I continued to stay at home with our children.

Now that my kids are 7 and 9, I decided to go back to work. But a ministry job wasn’t possible because it would mean a lot of child care for my kids. So, I took a job at their school. I work only the hours when they are at school, and I’m off for breaks with them. It works for this stage of my life. Some days, I miss full time ministry, but do you know what God is teaching me? Being a mom IS my full-time ministry. I have no greater job than to point my kids to Jesus. And, my job at the school IS my full-time ministry. I have made some amazing relationships with the teachers and co-workers at our local school. Many of them are not believers. I have the opportunity to be like Jesus around them. He became flesh and lived among us. Now He sends me to be His hands and feet and live among the unbelievers in my neighborhood.

Whether you are a YFC volunteer or worker, or a stay at home mom, God calls us to be salt and light to a dying world. We are now the ones who can live among the people and point them to Heaven. We can love the hurting, spend time with the poor, and touch the sick. We can encourage our friends and neighbors and tell them about Jesus and what He has done for them.

I hope this Christmas you will take some time to love the people around you and remember that just as Jesus came and lived with us, now He sends you, in whatever role you have, to live in the world and help give everyone His hope.

Merry Christmas dear women of YFC. May this season bring you great peace and joy as we celebrate the joy of our dear Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ.

-Corrie Kozacek
corrie.kozacek@yfci.org