ADVENTUS

 “The Coming”

“But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah,
who are too little to be among the
clans of Judah, from you shall come
forth for Me One who is to be ruler in
Israel, whose coming forth is from
of old, from ancient days.”
Micah 5:2 ESV

In the book, Extreme Devotion, Aristar tells the Christmas story to his fellow inmates in the Romanian prison of Tirgul-Ocna.¹ Cold winter air seeped through the prison walls around the captives who lacked food, clothing and blankets. As Christmas approached, each prisoner felt the pain of missing their loved ones and dreamt of going home to celebrate the birth of the Saviour.

The International Day of Prayer
for the Persecuted Church

Sunday, November 3^rd, 2024

Rev. Richard Wurmbrand, founder of the Voice of the Martyrs internationally, approached his mission with deep compassion. He recognized that for Christians behind the Iron Curtain, true hope lay in their relationship with Jesus Christ rather than just escaping to the West. He believed that God's Word and the support of the faithful church provided them enduring strength and solace amid their struggles.

"She gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her: 'You are the God
who sees me,' for she said, 'I have now seen the One who sees me.'"
Genesis 16:13 NIVUK

SAVE THE DATE!

This year’s International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church will be held on Sunday, November 3^rd.

Shocking, but not Surprising

“Christ is for the world; the world needs Christ.”
~ Eric Liddell

Considerable criticism has emerged from the opening ceremonies of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France. Artistic director Thomas Jolly sparked controversy when he used dancers and drag queens in what appeared to be a reenactment of Leonardo da Vinci’s “The Last Supper.” Christians worldwide were appalled to witness such flagrant mockery of Christianity on one of the world’s most prominent stages – the Olympic games. Jolly, however, defended the provocative scene by saying that a pagan festival associated with the gods of Olympus was his inspiration for the performance and not Leonardo da Vinci's masterpiece.

Tune My Heart

"On the twenty-third day of the seventh month [the king] sent the
people away to their homes, joyful and glad of heart for the prosperity that
the Lord had granted to David and to Solomon and to Israel His people."
~ 2 Chronicles 7:10 ESV

In May 2004, Helen Berhane was taken into custody by Eritrean authorities after refusing to sign a document asserting that she would not practise her Christian faith. Helen understood that imprisonment, solitary confinement and torture awaited her if she did not comply with the governing officials' demands. The pressure to recant her faith did not cease when Helen ended up in a prison camp; it only intensified.

Simple-Hearted Praise

“Out of the mouths of babies and infants,
You have established strength because of Your foes,
to still the enemy and the avenger.”
~ Psalm 8:2 ESV

The name of the Lord is majestic all over the earth. His splendour, which is not contingent on people’s confessions – nor their acceptance of who He is – testifies of His omnipotence. God’s glory, displayed above in the heavens, is not a fleeting phenomenon either. Rather, it has been established from everlasting to everlasting, inspiring awe and reverence in the lives of all those who even attempt to comprehend it.