Happy New Year! It’s a blessing to start the year with you and to send our heartfelt wishes to you and yours for the year ahead.
The new year is always filled with fresh hope. For many of us, we have had to put some plans and dreams on hold for the past year. A new year presents a new chance to try again. But, with variants of COVID surfacing, the future still holds some uncertainties. Yet our hope is steadfast and sure.
As Christians, we are very blessed to have our hope anchored not on circumstances but a Person – Jesus. He is unchangingly good, the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 18:8). He has plans for us, plans to prosper us, to give us a future and hope (Jeremiah 29:11). He is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end (Revelation 22:11). We may not know what our future holds, but we know who holds our future.
By looking back at what God has done and acknowledging His faithfulness, sovereignty, and other characteristics, we can confidently look ahead in hope.
“See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” Isaiah 43:19
As we begin the new year, may you be encouraged and renewed with fresh hope as you read stories from the field, of God, paving a way in persecuted places, reaching new lives, and preparing new ways. Despite persecution, the Church in China, restricted areas in Southeast Asia, and Kazakhstan, continue to thrive.
FEBC’s broadcasts have been able to bypass physical restrictions to reach thousands in their heart languages. Apart from radio, FEBC’s live streaming on social media and social chat platforms is bringing new audiences hope and life.
I am deeply touched by so many of the stories and the unabated love and reckless pursuit of God and His kingdom despite extreme persecution. You have helped to ignite that now-unquenchable fire for God in these brothers and sisters in Christ. I am looking forward to our continued partnership with eager anticipation, envisioning together the abundant harvest of new lives touched by God this year.
In His Service
Kevin Keegan
National Director, FEBC Australia