“Remember that Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, was raised from the dead according to my gospel.” (2 Timothy 2:8)

December 2004

Dear Friend,

Trusting that all is well with you and your loved ones. We are all fine, and praising God for all that He is doing in our midst. Our new ministry, ACTS TODAY, has taken off with Caregivers Seminars and a “Coffee Break for Caregivers” support group.” Our Senior to Senior “Care Call” ministry is going strong, our senior volunteers are calling 64 seniors on a regular basis offering friendship and prayer while checking to see that they are doing well. Our Hope Connection Helpline (718) 238-4600, is a beacon of light to our nation, with people calling in from all over the country for prayer or someone to talk to. Our Agape Prayer Net continues to increase in numbers with thousands of intercessors praying from all over the world for the needs of our Hope Connection callers.  More volunteers are coming in, and we give God all the glory for his blessings and provision. CHN of Kenya is doing a marvelous work there with their Helpline, and ministry to widows and orphans. May God continue to bless them abundantly! This has truly been a wonderful year at CHN! Can you believe it is December already? This year seemed to fly by more quickly than others! Or do I feel like this because I am getting older? It just seems like time is accelerating rapidly!

This month we will celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The world is trying to do away with the meaning of Christmas, not allowing public places to play music that has to do with His birth, or have displays of the Baby in the manger. As Christians we know that there is no meaning to Christmas other than the birth of our Savior. As Christians, it is important to adjust our vision to look past what the world seeks to incorporate in this holiday. It can be so easy to just go with the flow, and shop till we drop, and focus on secular decorations around our home. We are almost pushed into it by the media, by our jobs, our neighbors, our schools, and if we don’t hold strong, we can fall into that trap.

What happens then is we lose that precious moment of time, the glorious truth of the Gospel, that Jesus left Heaven to come to this earth to be born of a virgin, in humble surroundings. He became poor so that we might become rich. He came to this earth so that He could die to redeem mankind! He had a mission, and He accomplished it!

Just think! Jesus is the long awaited Messiah that the Jewish people were looking for! He came so that we could have life, and life abundantly! He came so that we could have all of heaven’s choicest blessings! All who would believe on Him, became co-heirs with Him as children of God! “And if children, then heirs - heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.” (Rom. 8:17). This is something to celebrate my friend! This is what it is all about! Jesus came as a man, to live and suffer as we do. He chose this! Then He chose to suffer and die a horrific death in our place! We deserve to die, not Him! “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” (2 Cor. 5:21). This was the reason He came. This is what the angels in heaven were singing about! This is why the Wise Men followed the star, and the shepherds in the field found their way to him in His lowly manger in a barn, or cave, as some believe. They knew this was the promised Messiah! They knew that mankind was going to be redeemed! They knew that the Prince of Peace had come!

Jesus came so that He could die for us. This was the Good News! This was the promise of the Covenant with God for all ages. Blood would be shed by a Pure Spotless Lamb, Jesus Christ, and because of the shed Blood mankind now had a choice. Those who believed on Jesus, and received Him into their heart became Born Again, brand new, and now had the promise of eternal life with Him in heaven. The Bible tells us in 2 Cor. 5:17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Glory!

This is what we celebrate this month. This glorious truth of the Gospel, this wonderful Savior who chose to come to earth as a human being, under the subjection to his parents until He was of age, then walk the earth bringing the Good News to all who would hear. He taught us how to live, He taught us about our heavenly home waiting for us. Those who were alive at the time, could not understand everything He was teaching, but His disciples knew He was telling them the truth, something profound. They believed in Him, and they followed Him. Just think how this affected the whole course of history! Jesus was born over 2000 years ago, but His followers are just as passionate about Him as His disciples were. We are blessed to have the infilling of the Holy Spirit to give us wisdom and guidance  in our Christian walk. We are blessed to have the Baptism of the Holy Spirit to enable us to go forth in power to be a witness for Him, and win souls to Christ. We are blessed to know that He is a shelter for us, a strong tower from the enemy. (Psalm 61:3). He will never leave us or forsake us! He is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.(Psalm 46:1) Therefore we will not fear anything that life may bring!

We have much to be thankful for this Christmas. The world may be in turmoil, but He sets our hearts in peace. He has done what He set out to do, and it is finished. Be joyful in Him this Christmas! Wishing you and your loved ones a very blessed Christmas and New Year.

God bless you!

Rev. Barbara Anne Yovino,Ph.D.