Now we live in the age of social media. For the Chinese, 2015 is a year of WeChat and Moments, which adds a new feature to Christmas. Many urban churches and Christians issue exquisite E-invitation cards to family and friends to celebrate the upcoming Christmas.
E-invitation cards are new ways with the rising of mobile social media. Currently there have been at least ten free software which have been used to make mobile App. Consumers can make micro-photos and electronic invitations there, in a word, they can make cool Web Apps like Microsoft PowerPoint.
Chinese churches follow this trend especially during the Christmas season this year. From the beginning of December, urban churches in Beijing, Shanghai, Xi'an and Hangzhou began to send out their Christmas E-invitations.
These e-invitations share the similar style with the title like "The Christmas Worship Invitation from XX Church," "The Christmas Concert on X/X," "You Have an Unread Invitation." When you click them, a slide of PPT appears with a hymn ringing. The slides are filled with beautiful photos and warm, lively invitation word.
One invitation from an urban church in Shanghai says, "Buddies, Christmas is coming! What is Christmas? What's special about Dec. 25? Christmas stockings? Discount season? Surprise? Snow? Gifts? The real meaning of Christmas is the birthday party of Jesus."
These Christmas e-invitations reflect the charm of e-invitation: simple form with rich content. A Christian sister says she really likes e-invitation for its "environmental protecting, fashionable, and practical." There is no need for churches to print gospel tracts or invitation cards which cost money and there are many templates to choose which carry more information than a single tract before.
One of the biggest traditions for Christmas is that Chinese churches make it a season to attract seekers to know Jesus. Many churches prepare for various Christmas performances a month ahead and encourage believers to invite their family, friends, and seekers to attend the celebration. With the rising use of social media in China, in addition to verbal invitation, these new electronic invitations have become a new way of social invitations, tools used for the Gospel.
