“On Christmas Eve, we received word that our longtime neighbor, Larisa,* had passed away,” our workers Eddie* and Sarah* shared. They had known Larisa for more than 15 years. Over that time, simple rhythms of life had bound them together—especially the moments when something broke down in their shared apartment building and Eddie would head to the basement with Larisa’s husband, Anton,* to fix it side by side. 

Around noon on Christmas day, Eddie and Sarah went to Anton’s apartment, paid their respects, and Eddie helped carry Larisa’s casket to the cemetery. “Arriving at the cemetery on Christmas was an interesting mix of emotions,” they say. “On the one hand, our family was thinking of wanting to celebrate Christmas at home, and on the other, we were mourning the passing of a neighbor.”  

As they walked past the many gravestones that day, they felt the meaning of Christmas pressing on them with fresh weightiness. God reminded them that Christmas is about hope: Jesus came so that death would not have the final word. Standing there, Eddie and Sarah quietly wrestled with a question: “How can we share that message with the many non-believers and Muslims in attendance?” 

It was hard to discern whether it would even be appropriate to share the gospel in this setting, knowing many in the crowd would be very against it. But after some time, they asked if they could say a few words, and Anton graciously agreed. 

Sarah spoke first, remembering Larisa’s warmth—her kindness, her joy, and the way she cared for those around her. Then she shared that she and Eddie follow Jesus, and that Eddie wanted to read a few passages of Scripture. 

Eddie began with Ecclesiastes 7:1–3, which says, “It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting, for this is the end of all mankind.” He reflected on how moments like these invite us to think honestly about death—and about what lies beyond it. Death is not the end, which is the why a cross had been laid at Larisa’s grave, honoring her Orthodox faith.  

Eddie continued with Jesus’s words in John 11:25, which say, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying.” Then Eddie read Jesus’s words in John 14:1–3 about Him preparing rooms for His people and His promise to return. “While we mourn today, we can also look forward to the day of resurrection,” Eddie concluded. 

By the time Eddie had finished sharing, many seemed to be nodding their heads and taking his message to heart. Afterwards, Anton came up to Eddie with tears in his eyes. He shook his hand four times, showing his appreciation for their support and message of hope. 

Jesus, please draw near to those mourning the loss of Larisa. And please cultivate the seed that was planted in the hearts of everyone who heard the gospel for the very first time on that Christmas day. 

*Names changed for security