I remember in 2019, a friend asking me what I thought the new year would bring. I jokingly responded, “I don’t know, I don’t have 2020 vision!” It was funny at the time, but nobody knew how crazy and unpredictable 2020 would turn out to be. We are so looking forward to 2021! But even if 2020 was the craziest year of our lifetime, opportunities to share continued to present themselves. We learned a new word and new method of communicating: ZOOM! It became the new normal for virtual interactions, so we had to adapt.

I had been taking advantage of ZOOM for three years already and had a Bible study that continues to this day, to which I added a second night, and soon a third. One of the most exciting exercises we did recently was to prepare to share the gospel in 25 words or less. It forced us to set aside the fluff in our message and concentrate on the non-negotiable of the good news. Almost everybody used different words, but the bulk of the message of hope was preserved without compromise. What a great exercise it was!

This message of salvation would not exist if God hadn’t sent His Son to be born a Jew in the flesh and die on the cross for our sins. Messiah had to be born to die on our behalf.

As we celebrate His prophetic birth, we also celebrate the gift of eternal life in God’s presence. COVID-19 never stopped God from being God. The message is the same and it is the only hope we have in a world plagued by a virus much more devastating than any other - the virus of sin.

The cure is Yeshua, and He is inviting all to come to Him. Let’s praise God for His perfect plan for the ages and let’s celebrate His Son, the Light of the World.

May you be blessed beyond this season, as you bless us by your prayers and support. Let’s make 2021 count for the kingdom!

Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah!

Olivier and Ellen Melnick

Very dear friends! I have nothing to add except that I too am waiting in anticipation for what God has planned for 2021!

Pastor Dale