Greetings in the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ!

Each year as Easter draws near, I’m reminded of God’s love and His unwavering commitment to us. The newness of life that we have in Him is beyond anything we can imagine (2 Corinthians 5:17). The reality of this was something I’m sure the disciples clung to while living and ministering alongside the Savior. They watched how He related to people from various walks of life. And they were probably spellbound at the hope He offered through His healing touch.

Like many people today, they faced times of uncertainty, unrest, and disappointment. But as long as Jesus was with them, they had a reassuring sense of hope. They learned what it meant to trust Him with every area of their lives. He taught them how to give freely of themselves while not expecting any earthly reward, but looking toward God’s eternal reward that would be theirs one day.

Just when it seemed that all they had dreamed was about to come true, their world fell apart. Jesus was betrayed, arrested, and crucified. For a brief moment in time, it appeared that God was denying them the fulfillment of their greatest hopes. But this was not the case. He had a plan.

Many times what appears to be an ending is God’s way of opening a new door of opportunity. The Savior’s earthly ministry had to end before the next step in His redemptive plan could be revealed. Through Christ’s death, we are given new life and forgiven of all our sins.

The ministry of Nations for Jesus (NFJ) reaches around the world, and I can tell you that many of the people, and especially the children that we minister to, are facing grave challenges. They need to hear this message. Some are so troubling that they could easily be tempted to feel defeated by their circumstances. But the author of Hebrews reminds us, “We are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the preserving of the soul” (Hebrews 10:39).

In other words, we don’t give up because we have a living hope thanks to God, who gave us His Son. The apostle Paul added an “amen” to this thought when he wrote, “We are more than conquerors through him who loved us” (Romans 8:37). The New American Standard translates that verse this way: “In all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.”

The very things that would seek to threaten our peace, hope, and security are God’s stepping-stones on which we walk to gain the victory that He has for us. Amy Carmichael, who was a lifelong missionary to India and who personally rescued countless children from lives of caste-based prostitution, wrote,

“Give me the Love that leads the way

The Faith that nothing can dismay

The Hope no disappointments tire

The Passion that’ll burn like fire

Let me not sink to be a clod

Make me Thy fuel, Flame of God.”

Is this the prayer of your heart? Is hope alive within you? After Jesus’ death, Mary and a few other women went to His tomb. They were deeply discouraged and believed that they would only be greeted by the reality of His death. Instead they were embraced by glorious life and light. “He is not here,” the angels told them. “He has risen, just as He said[!]”(Matthew 28:6) The message of Easter is one that we carry with us around the world. Jesus has risen; and therefore, there is great hope—not just for us—but for everyone who is in need of the Savior. 

Below I have included updates and photographs of the work that NFJ is doing around the world. Please keep our ministry on your prayer list and ask the Lord how you can be a part of what we are doing in countries like India, Turkey, Haiti, Nepal, and others. Remember, we can do all things through Jesus Christ!

May you have a wonderful Easter!

 

Ratna K. Sajja, D.Min.

President

www.nationsforjesus.org