04 Feb 2025

Happy New Year

Hey all, It is wild that we’re already in 2025, as we reflect on our theme for 2024, “Holding onto Hope”, we see how God was true to His Word. The scripture found in Hebrews 10:23, called us to “hold unswervingly to the hope we profess” and ties to this instruction a very valid reason, “He who promised is faithful”. Holding onto hope wasn’t always easy, but one thing we can boldly say is that God truly showed Himself as faithful. 

Our theme for 2025 is a little different, more of a challenge than an outright encouragement. I was reflecting on all the injustice seen and experienced in the communities God called us to serve. Crime, lawlessness, addiction, poverty and gangsterism, to name but a few, are all on the rise again. The news headlines are again filled with so much negativity and serving in an organisation that prides itself in changing “bad news” stories to “Good news” stories, this challenged me tremendously. It’s like a “Holy anger” filled my heart, I found myself questioning God, as it seemed as though we were taking 5 strides forward and 20 backwards. In my quiet time the terms “reverence” and “fear of The Lord” came up frequently, I felt the Lord say to me, “the increase in lawlessness is due to a lack of Reverence for My Name”. 

The scripture I was led to is Hebrews 12:28-29,”Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire”. I was encouraged by this portion of scripture, not only does it highlight the awesomeness of God, but it reminds us that He’s in control and His kingdom is unshakeable. 

Our theme this year is “Restoring Reverence“, it’s a challenge to firstly apply it to our own lives and then to teach it and to live it out toward and before others. How do we with reverence for God, remember His righteous act that saved us and reconciled us to Himself. How do we, in turn, become radical about that reconciliation, firstly toward God and then toward each other. And finally, how do we live reverent lives before God in pursuing holy living through repentance, and in turn inviting others on this journey.

Charles Spurgeon wrote “If we want revivals, we must revive our reverence for the Word of God” 

Much love, Shaun