Dear Beloved followers of Christ,
As we stand on the threshold of a new year, we look back with gratitude for the grace and peace that Christ has poured into our lives during this past year. Christmas has reminded us of the hope and joy that entered the world through the birth of our Savior, and as we move forward into the new year, we are called to carry that same hope into the future. We are assured by the words of Scripture that God is with us, guiding us into a future filled with promise. As the Apostle Paul writes in his letter to the Philippians, “I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6, NRSV). This verse instructs us that the work God that has begun in us—through Christ—is a work that will be completed. We can have an unyielding hope in the certainty of God’s faithfulness, knowing that God is always at work, shaping us into the people we are called to be.
American Baptists, as we step into 2025, let us remember that the same peace, love, hope and joy of Christ that we celebrated during Christmas continues to guide us. We are empowered by the work of the Holy Spirit in us to be ambassadors for Christ and agents of reconciliation. Together let us be instruments of peace, extending love to our neighbors, embracing the diversity of God’s creation, and working together to bring healing to our world.
May we walk together in faith, embracing God’s plan for our lives and for the world God loves so deeply. Let us expand our definition of neighbor and lean into sharing grace and mercy.
In 2025, let us look forward with enthusiasm and expectancy to participating in the movement of God in our families, churches, and communities near and far.
Happy New Year! May 2025 be a year of growth, forgiveness, and abundant love as we continue to live out the mission entrusted to us.
In Christ’s Love,
Rev. Dr. Gina Jacobs-Strain General Secretary American Baptist Churches USA
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