Dec 2008 Innercircle Perspective

But there will be no more gloom for her who was in anguish; in earlier times He treated the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali with contempt, but later on He shall make it glorious, by the way of the sea, on the other side of Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles. The people who walk in darkness will see a great light; Those who live in a dark land, The light will shine on them (Isaiah 9:1-2).

The promised “Great Light” came exactly as prophesied. How tragic it is, however, that after 2,000 years, most of the people in most of the countries are still in a dark land. And most of the people on the earth still walk in darkness. In Russia, the darkness is still so pervasive that the current goal of the national evangelical church leaders is to see a total of 1% of the population won to Christ and walking in the Light (Praise the Lord for the great progress from one in 10,000 in 1990 to one in 1,000 today).

Through the pen of the Prophet Isaiah in chapter 42, God said that He would send His Son to be “a light to the nations.” In chapter 49, God again said that He would send His Son as “a light to the nations so that His salvation may reach to the end of the earth.” When righteous and devout Simeon saw the baby Jesus, he referred to Him as “God’s salvation,” and as “a light of revelation to the Gentiles.”

In chapter four, Matthew reports that the young Jesus moved from Nazareth and “settled in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali” to begin His earthly ministry. It was exactly where Isaiah prophesied that those who had walked in darkness would “see a great light”…and “the light will shine on them.” And the glorious “Great Light” did indeed shine first on the people in that region.

Isaiah also prophesied that “a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel.” The SGA’s Immanuel’s Child Christmas outreach ministry derives its name from these verses. North American churches help Russian churches conduct evangelistic Christmas programs to reach unchurched children in their communities.   And in Russia, Christmas is celebrated on January 7.

The Immanuel’s Child outreaches last Christmas reached more than 21,000 people with the Gospel. A total of 262 churches in nine countries participated, five of them being Muslim nations. Altogether nearly 10,000 children and their unchurched family members heard the true meaning of Christmas and experienced the love of Christ. A total of 640 children and 107 adults repented of their sins and trusted in Christ as Savior and Lord. More than 1,000 children, and nearly 400 parents and grandparents began attending church on a regular basis. It was a gloriously successful ministry made possible by the members of faithful Bible-preaching churches of North America.

As Christmas approaches, I want to thank you again!   Your faithful prayers, as well as your help with Christmas gifts for Russian pastors and their families, the Christmas outreaches to orphans, and the Immanuel’s Child Christmas outreaches, are all immensely appreciated.

Please also pray for many SGA partners in America and Canada who are experiencing hardship. The economic downturn has impacted their families, and for some it will be a very limited Christmas. Pray for new employment opportunities for those who have lost their jobs, for business owners who are facing substantial difficulties, and for those whose investments and retirement nest eggs have experienced substantial decline. Many of our long-term faithful partners are undergoing unprecedented challenges. Please join us in a great throng of prayer for them and for their families.

Your wonderful partnership in the Gospel is a very special gift from God. May your home be filled with the love of Christ and blessed beyond measure during the Christmas season and throughout the new year.