Below is a message addressed to the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Inter-America from President of the Inter-American Division, Elie Henry–IAD News Staff
December 16, 2022 | Miami, Florida, United States | By: Elie Henry, president of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Inter-America
Hello, Happy Sabbath.
I am happy to greet you once again, as we near the end of the year 2022.
How many blessings have you experienced during these months? How many good times can you count? Surely many, and each one of them is a reason to thank and praise God.
But I’m also sure that at some point during the year you experienced worry, pain or discouragement.
As we end the year of reflection and gratitude, and begin a new one with promises and opportunities, we certainly visualize days like those prophesied by Isaiah, in chapter 60, where “darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples” (v.2). But we know prophecy and we know the Lord, the author of prophecy, and that is why we trust in God.
Similarly, after taking time to review and reflect on Israel’s history, Isaiah recorded a series of promises that encouraged the people to face the future and that applies to us as well. He began the chapter by encouraging them thus: “Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.” (60:1) Those same promises apply to us, as well.
As we prepare to receive the year 2023, our desire as church leaders is that you and your families, together with us, draw closer to the Lord Jesus, the Sun of Justice, so that through each one of us, the “Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over.” (v.2).
Happy New Year 2023 and may God bless you abundantly.