Copyright © 2011 Grace Family Church of Rhode Island

August 2006

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

With renewed armed hostilities in the Middle East, we are again reminded that our world can suddenly become extremely dangerous. Some, of course, see the current crisis as the precursor of the “end time” and look for the great tribulation of Matthew 24 to begin at any moment. For many Christians, these are frightening thoughts.

Personally, I am not in the least worried about whether this or any world crisis is the “beginning of the end.” And you don’t have to be, either. Jesus tells us that we have nothing to be afraid of -- because our faith is in him. If and when the “end time” comes upon us, we can be confident in God’s love for us, just as we are at all times, good and bad. Whether we suffer painful trials or seasons of prosperity, whether we experience long life or early death, God will never leave us or forsake us -- his love never diminishes.

We are told in 1 John 2:28, “And now, dear children, continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming.” You know, we really can trust God to be faithful and to take care of us. “For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thessalonians 5:9). War is dangerous, but it can never break the bonds of eternal love with which God holds us tightly to himself.

Let us never neglect to pray for all those who are suffering in war-ravaged regions, soldiers and civilians alike, as we earnestly look forward to the day when peace will reign over all the Earth. And as we do, let’s remember that every person everywhere needs the good news of hope and salvation that we are called to share.

Thank you so much for your faith and love in contributing toward helping people share in the hope and confidence that we have in Christ. Have you thought about the fact that every dollar you give to the church is put to work to help give people what they need most -- the gospel, the good news? Good news about their past. Good news about their future. And good news about their present.

It’s right now that people need to hear what Jesus Christ has to say to them. They need to know that their past has been cleaned and forgiven -- that God loves them in spite of everything they’ve done and not done -- and that in Christ he’s made them right with him. And they need to know that their future is safe and secure in Christ, that a glorious and wonderful eternity awaits them.

But it’s in the here and now, in the immediate present, where people are hurting, fearful and stressed. Where they stand in desperate need of real hope and real peace. Peace of heart and mind. Peace to know that despite all reasons to be afraid and anxious, their loving Creator is right besides them, standing with them in power, caring about them and wanting them to know that he will see them through every grief, trial and tragedy.

And your labor of love in the gospel is part of the way God brings his good news of hurting and fearful people.

God loves to share with us his work of reaching people with the hope they can only find in him. Every time you contribute to the work of your local congregation, every time you contribute to the work of your denomination, you are taking part in God’s work of bringing peace to troubled hearts.

So let me again thank you for your great generous heart in the Lord your God -- a heart that God loves, a heart that proves that it cares about what God cares about. May God keep you ever strong in his peace and faith.

In Jesus’ love,

Joseph Tkach