01/01/2026
A Message of Gratitude and Hope for the New Year
To My Dear Church Family,
As we stand at the threshold of a new year, I find my heart overflowing with praise for our Heavenly Father. Looking back on these past twelve months, I am reminded that while the road was not always smooth, it was always paved with God’s faithfulness.
We have each faced our share of trials—some seen and many known only to the Lord. Yet, in spite of every challenge, every tear, and every mountain we had to climb, the Lord has carried us. He has been our Shepherd, our Fortress, and our Constant Help.
Let us enter this new season with a heart of thanksgiving, as expressed in 1 Samuel 7:12:
"Then Samuel took a stone and set it up... He named it Ebenezer, saying, 'Thus far the Lord has helped us.'"
As we look toward the year ahead, I want to stir your hearts with a holy anticipation. We live in a world that is often shaken, but our hope is anchored in a Kingdom that cannot be moved. I urge you to fix your gaze not on the temporary troubles of this world, but on the eternal glory of our King.
The signs of the times remind us that the return of our Lord is closer than ever before. Now is the time to set our hearts on things above and to live with the urgency of those who expect their King at any moment. As the scripture says in Romans 13:11:
"And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed."
Let us commit to walking into the new year with our eyes lifted upward, our lamps trimmed, and our hearts ready. May we be found faithful, busy with the Father's work, and filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit.
I am expectant for all that God will do in and through us in the coming year. I love you all dearly and continue to keep you in my prayers.
In the name of Jesus Christ,
Bishop Bavon
