2020 Europe and Middle East Region End of Year Message

Dear EMERALD and AWF family,

Greetings!

As we approach the end of the year and prepare to celebrate the Christmas season and the new year 2021, I wish each one of you a merry Christmas and a happy New Year. I pray that the presence and blessings of the Lord will fill your lives. May the Lord protect each one of you and use you during this difficult time to be a blessing to those around you.

While our world is trying hard to face the coronavirus pandemic, I am reminding myself and you of this promise from the Word of God that says: “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea.” (Psalm 46:1-2 NIV). It is so obvious that we live in one small, fragile and shaky world, but we can still come to the Lord, trusting in Him alone, that He is an ever-present help for us in troubling times.

This challenging year showed us that we are one family and one body of Christ. I am so proud to be part of it. The global COVID-19 phase one and two response helped the AWF family to show love, compassion, and care in a practical way to one another. As one body of Christ, if one part suffers, every part suffers with it. We experienced this by the overwhelming love and prayers for our beloved brothers and sisters of the C&MA church in Lebanon during the huge explosion in Beirut.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, churches were not able to meet in person for a good time. It is amazing to see how churches were able to adapt and use online technologies to keep caring for their own people, training them, and spreading the good news of Jesus all over the place.

Finally, I am praying that in 2021 God will be exalted among the nations by building his Church and expanding his kingdom through the work of all Alliance national churches.

Blessings,

Rev. Munther Shahatit
Regional Coordinator Europe and Middle East Region