Hope in Holy Week

Posted on April 08, 2020

Dear Friends,

Hope is central to our faith as followers of Christ, even in dark times. All over the world, Christians are observing Holy Week (or Passion Week), and are doing so with hope. Our faith has the power to turn death into life. Paradoxically, we commemorate the day Christ died by calling it Good Friday. We call it “good” because through the crucifixion of Christ, the Father has bestowed eternal goodness upon us –  forgiveness that lasts forever.

And resurrection is coming. It’s not here yet—death is all around us—but it is coming. This is our hope! And nothing can take it away. Nothing can separate us from the Love of God in Christ Jesus. Not social distancing. Not COVID-19. Not sickness. Not loss. Not even death itself. We have hope now—and that hope will last forever because of Christ. Hope is central to what we believe. Passion week reminds of that hope again.

Some of you are already responding to our “Give Hope” crisis response to COVID-19. Thank you so very much. We will soon be bringing you stories from far away places like India, Ukraine, Zimbabwe, Cuba, and Guatemala—where our leaders are working to bring hope in some of the poorest regions of the world. A generous partner is leading the way in this time of crisis with a $25,000 matching gift for the month of April. Your gift in this time of crisis will be doubled and will help us give hope to this world in need.  

Whatever you do in this time—do not lose hope! The “good news” is that absolutely nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. Nothing! Cling to the eternal promises of the gospel this week. God is for us, not against us, and the One who died was raised to life, and is coming to make all things new. Remain firmly fixed on that hope this week.

For the World,

Lionel Young