Dear Sisters and Brothers
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
The past year has been challenging for everyone, yet, we thank God for the promise given in his word. ‘Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand’(Isaiah 41:10). I would like to express my gratitude and appreciation to you my sisters and brothers (members, officers and leaders) for your faithfulness and commitment to the various ministries of our Church during the past year. God has provided all the resources needed and continues to challenge us to be good stewards of such resources.
For many of you, the holiday season has left you with pleasant memories of your various family gatherings and success stories. On the other hand, for others, the bitter taste of the joy anticipated was destroyed by the unfolding of the sad events of illness, death, family relations or loss of income, to name a few. We have the assurance that our God knows all things. May his presence offer you peace and comfort in your time of distress
The events (health- new diseases- now monkey Pox, economic crisis resulting in the high cost of living, political wars, natural and man made disaster and the increase in technology) happening nationally, regionally, and internationally continue to impact the way we do ministry and call us to adjust or modify our methods while maintaining the focus to be the salt and light of this world (Matthew 5: 13-16). Our theme of trusting God in difficult times, transforming obstacles into opportunities is quite fitting for us.
It is my prayer, that as a Church, we can find creative ways to be effective in equipping our members to be disciple-makers in the midst of these days. May we mobilize ourselves as God’s people to stay in mission and may we represent Christ well. I would like to make a special appeal, as Paul did in 2 Corinthians 5: 9-10, to the members of our various congregations who were born between the years 1970 – 2002. This age group to my mind, is the most productive age group of our Church. They are the working class, with families (children), gifted with the skills and expertise needed. No longer should you just attend worship and slip out. Yes, am aware and concerned about the many inconsistencies we have but change only begins with the individual.
It is not progressive for one person to serve as a Congregational Steward, Class Leader, Property Steward, or any other office for more than five (5) years. Why should one person be so burdened with more than one functional office? He or she will eventually be burnt out. Now is the time to make use of the opportunities available to become a disciple of Jesus and offer yourself to serve. Let’s have a conversation, and enhance our worship, witness, and work. Sunday, January 1, 2023, is an occasion to begin afresh with your God and Saviour, Jesus Christ.It is my prayer that we will walk out in faith for a healthy, wealthy, and spirit-filled 2023, motivated by love for God and each other.
Hope and I wish to express our appreciation to all our members and friends for the love, prayers, support, fellowship and gifts received. We look forward to 2023 with confidence for we know our God delivers.
Your servant in Christ
Andrine J. Joseph