The Greatest Gift of All

At no other season of the year do we feel warmer toward our fellowman.  At no other time are we more kind in our relationships and more sympathetic towards other’s needs.  At no other time of the year are we more expressive of our love than in the Christmas season.

This is good, because if there is anything the world needs, it is love.  Man’s deepest felt need is to be loved.  Man’s deepest real need is to be saved from his sins.  God answered man’s deepest needs by giving us His Son.  The life and death of Jesus Christ shows us the immeasurable greatness of  the love of God.

In the Gospel of John, we are told that most men did not receive Jesus.  In spite of their rejection, Jesus stayed his course, suffered and died. His act on our behalf revealed the fullness of God’s love and become the means by which those who do repent and  receive Jesus as Lord and Savior can receive forgiveness of their sins and have eternal life with Him.

No wonder the angelic choir sang, “We bring you good news of great joy.” Jesus, whose birth we celebrate, is the One—the only One—who can not only save us from our sin, but also meet every need, provide solutions for every problem, and satisfy every longing of our soul.  That brings joy—joy, not as the world gives, but as only Christ gives.

This month as we draw near to Christmas Day, we will experience many different joys.  Families will gather, gifts will be given and received, meals will be eaten, and good memories will be built for future recollection.

In all of this bustle, let us not forget the greatest  reason for our joy.  Let us remember that we are celebrating God’s greatest gift to mankind.  May we go tell it on every mountain that Jesus Christ is born—born to save every sinful soul, and to make whole very broken heart, every shattered dream, every disappointed life.  In Christmas, in the birth of Christ, is found the remedy needed for our human predicament.   During this season, who will you seek out and tell about God’s gift of love?

The Anthony Family

Sends you

Christmas Greetings

May you be

 especially blessed this

Christmas Season!

He writes….

In October, I went to Kenya for the first time.  I had the privilege of being the main speaker for the Church of Pentecost during their annual National Leaders’ Conference.  I have known the host pastor for about 11 years before he was transferred from Ghana to Kenya to serve there as national overseer of the Church of Pentecost.

I spoke to his leaders on topics ranging from winning the war over the flesh, being led by the Spirit of God, and ending with a passionate message on world evangelism.  That last session turned into a great time of prayer as we laid hands on each pastor, the elders, deacons, deaconesses, and all other participants.  It was an awesome time in the Lord.  At the end of the three-day session, they all came individually to express their appreciation for my coming so far to teach them and impart into their lives.

On the last Sunday, we traveled to the Masai land where we were to meet with a group of their churches holding a joint service.  Many of their members walked 10 miles or more to attend the church service.  This is not a rare occasion, as I was told that they often walk great distances to attend church.  They normally begin church by 10 am and will close after 2 pm.  They will be praising the Lord, dancing, worshiping, receiving the Word of God, and continue to dance for more hours!   I delivered a message I felt was from the Lord on winning the war of love.  This turned out to be an important message, because the Masai people have as part of their culture  taking revenge themselves for wrongs committed against them. We also were led to pray for the entire church and their work throughout the   Masai land.

As I was leaving, I felt great satisfaction knowing that my journey was successful.  First of all, because the pastors at the retreat reacted with such affirmation to the messages.  Second, we are believing God to send a group of students to Kenya and into the Masai tribal area next year,  I needed to go there beforehand to assess the ministry possibilities and see the locations for the crusade and places of ministry.  I also needed to have the people get to know me.  Not only were they able to get to know me, but on the Sunday I ministered in the Masai church, they gave me one of their traditional neck pieces, which symbolizes their acceptance of me.  I believe that a year from now, the Lord is going to do a great work through the team that will go to Kenya.

Thank you for your prayers!  You were there with me!
God bless you, Pastor Aaron

Pastors/leaders continued their joyful worship outside!

Ministering at the Masai Joint Service

Responding to a call for repentance and holy living

Being presented a neckpiece symbollizing the Masai's acceptance of Pastor Aaron