Shining the Light of Christ this Christmas
Julie and I want to first and foremost thank you for who you are in Christ and what you have continued to do in his name throughout 2023.
It has been another demanding and challenging year, and it’s only through the love and power of Jesus that we can achieve what we are called to do as The Salvation Army, Te Ope Whakaora. Together we live out the good news of Jesus Christ so that everyone can experience hope, wholeness and ongoing transformation—the fullness of life as God intended.
Christmas is almost here! Have you noticed that Christmas lights and trees have been on display a lot earlier this year? There were Christmas lights in our street in early November! I think that more and more people want to enjoy the wonder and joy of Christmas for longer periods of time and displaying lights is a message of the good news of Jesus’ birth to the world. It’s a bit like seeing hot cross buns for sale in January in the lead up to Easter. My initial response was an attitude of how dare they! But as I thought about this, I realised that these symbols give us an opportunity as part of the wider church to present the good news of Jesus Christ in his coming as a child and his salvation through his death, resurrection and ascension.
In the Bible in the Gospel of John, Jesus said: ‘I have come as light into the world, so that everyone who believes and trusts in me [as saviour—all those who anchor their hope in me and rely on the truth of my message] will not continue to live in darkness’ (John 12:46, AMP). This is the vision: The Salvation Army in New Zealand, Fiji, Tonga and Samoa living out the good news of Jesus Christ, shining the light of hope, wholeness and ongoing transformation in our nations. Thank you for the many ways you show Jesus in your lives and ministries.
This season as we sing carols, tell the Christmas story and show kindness through providing gifts and hampers, we pray people will experience life in all its fullness. There is a song by Chris Tomlin called ‘Here I Am to Worship’. The first verse reads:
Light of the world
You stepped down into darkness
Opened my eyes, let me see
Beauty that made this heart adore you
Hope of a life spent with you.
May the light, beauty and hope of Jesus Christ be yours this Christmas and also for those who are impacted by your lives and ministries. God bless you and your families this Christmas season.
Commissioners Mark and Julie Campbell,
Territorial Leaders
John 12:46
I have come as light into the world, so that everyone who believes and trusts in me [as savior—all those who anchor their hope in me and rely on the truth of my message] will not continue to live in darkness. (AMP)
Kua tae mai nei ahau hei whakamārama mō te ao, kei noho i te pōuri tētahi e whakapono ana ki ahau. (PT)
Au sa lako mai ki vuravura meu kena rarama, me kakua ni tiko e na butobuto ko koya yadua sa vakabauti au. (FOV)
Ham dunia meñ añjora ban ke aaya hei ki jon koi bhi ham pe biswaas kari, u añdhera meñ nai rahi. (FRHNT)
Kuo u ha‘u au ki māmani ko e maama, koe‘uhi he ‘ilonga ha taha ‘oku tui pikitai kiate au, pea ‘oua te ne kei nofo ai pe ‘i he po‘uli. (TMB)
Ua ou sau o le malamalama i le lalolagi, ina ia le tumau pea i le pouliuli se tasi e faatuatua mai ia te au. (SOV)
