Oamaru Baptist Church is happy to present “To Understand and Be Understood—A Seminar on Assertiveness” on Sunday, June 15, 2025, at 2:00 PM at OBC.

Our guest resource is Dr. Val Gonzales, from Mesquite, Texas.

Our goal in this seminar is to delve into the essential values and principles that inspire creating a truly supportive and welcoming community that celebrates the richness of diversity, irrespective of race or colour.

Val Gonzales will be our guest speaker during the worship service on June 15 at 10:00 AM. He will preach on the theme of “Church and Mental Wellness.”

Know more about the speaker

Dr. Val Gonzales, Th.D., M.Div., MAC, LPC-LCDC (Retired), is an ordained minister who held a Licensure in Professional Counselling with the state of Texas, USA, Department of State Health and Human Services since 2005 until his formal retirement in 2022. His specialty includes depression, addiction, and co-occurring disorders.

He holds two undergraduate degrees (Bachelor of Arts in Economics and English and Bachelor of Science in Commerce) from Central Philippine University (CPU), where he received the Most Outstanding Student Award.

CPU has also awarded him the 2005 Most Distinguished Centralian Award in Pastoral Counselling.

Val took further studies from the Philippine Baptist Theological Seminary (M.Div.); Asia Baptist Graduate Theological Seminary & The School of Psychology of Religion, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky (Th.D. in Practical Theology with major in Pastoral Care and Counseling); Eastfield College; and Dallas Baptist University, Dallas, Texas (MAC).

His varied work experiences include the following: church minister, college and seminary professor, personnel manager, program director for psychiatry clinical research, managed-care triage manager, and family, group, and individual therapist. He has over 35 years of pastoral experience and over 30 years of teaching experience.

As a professional educator, Dr. Gonzales has served as adjunct faculty in the Department of Social Sciences and Human Services at Eastfield College in Mesquite, Texas (2007-2014). His latest teaching experience was as Dean and Lecturer of the School of Counselling at Singapore Bible College (2014-2020).

Dr. Gonzales wrote Journey of Hope, An Addiction Recovery Manual for Groups, Armour Publishing, Singapore, March 2017 and Addiction: An Integrative Reflection, Palmetto Publishing, USA, April 2024.

Dr. Gonzales is happily married to Chelly Molinos Gonzales. They are joyful parents to Philippe Eirenaeus (married to Fee Patterson, McKinney, Texas) and Tina Rachel (married to Alexander Halitsa of Hamburg, Germany). They have a grandchild, Kingsley Cole Patterson Gonzales, who is almost two years old.  

This seminar is open to all church members and the community. Please plan to attend and invite others.

The invitation surprised me, yet at the same time, delighted me by the opportunity for our kids not only to enjoy the egg hunt but also to have the chance to see the rest home, which is just a few metres from the church, and perhaps meet the residents, staff, and management.

Oamaru Baptist Church and the Sandringham House Rest Home, though having different building numbers, No. 12 and 14, respectively, are located in the same compound and share a driveway.

To celebrate the joyful spirit of Resurrection Day, I requested parents to help their children create Easter greeting cards for our wonderful residents. It’s a lovely way to show our appreciation and spread the message.

The Easter weekend was rainy, but it did not dampen the enthusiasm of the organisers or the participants. The Easter egg hunt event proceeded as planned.

As anticipated in any children’s game, the Easter egg hunt inspired excitement and joy as they uncovered the colourful chocolate eggs and other hidden “treasures.”

I was told that when the children were asked about the meaning of “Easter,” they responded that it celebrates the rising of Jesus Christ from the dead.

Indeed, this significant event, which occurs on the third day following his crucifixion, signifies hope, renewal, and the promise of eternal life for those who believe in Him. This is the truth that the young and old of the Baptist Church believe in and consistently celebrate.

Observing children enjoying the Easter egg hunt at a rest home, one might easily reflect that the children are catching a glimpse of their future, while the residents are cherishing memories of their childhood years.

However, we must look beyond the physical frailty that old age brings and the energy that the younger years offer, because after all, no one knows when and how our lives on earth will end.

What I reflected on from the joint Easter event at the rest home is how our Lord Jesus Christ has endowed resurrection and eternal life to all, the young and the old.

It is our prayer that through the simple greeting cards, our children have imparted hope and joy to the residents, that among the many joys of Easter, the promise of a resurrected life for all who believe stands out.

I am reminded of the old-time children’s chorus that says,

The time to be happy now
The time to be happy here
And the way to be happy is to make others happy
And to have a little heaven down here.

We appreciate the management of Sandringham House Rest Home for inviting us to the Easter Egg Hunt event and for creating a “little heaven” at No. 12 and No. 14 Sandringham Street this Resurrection Sunday.

To God be the glory!

PHOTO CREDIT: Sandringham House Rest Home FB page

Even the Stones Will Speak

In this Holy Week reflection, the author, Elmo Familiaran, considers the paradox of the weeklong events: Jesus entering in triumph but ending in his crucifixion. ➔ CLICK TO READ MORE

The Triumphal Entry of Jesus – Proclaiming the Righteousness of God

I wrote this reflection during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown in 2020. A virus, a microscopic organism like a non-living stone, has caused God’s people to proclaim His righteousness louder than before. ➔ CLICK TO READ MORE

What is Good in Good Friday? Understanding and Embracing its Real Value

This reflection gives us refreshing and meaningful reflections on Good Friday. You are encouraged to read the whole text as you celebrate the Resurrection Weekend. ➔ CLICK TO READ MORE

7 Good Friday Short Reflections this Resurrection Weekend

When Good Friday comes, we are constantly confronted with, “How can the death of the one, Jesus Christ, be redemption for all?” These short reflections are faith-assuring. ➔ CLICK TO READ MORE

Happy Easter or Happy Resurrection! He Lives! Christ Jesus Lives Today!

What is the meaning and implication of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead? This article assures us of who Jesus Christ is and the firm foundation of our joy, peace, and thanksgiving. ➔ CLICK TO READ MORE

For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, (1 Corinthians 15:3-4)

The church has been a regular caroller at the rest home, bringing the Christmas message through songs every December.

While I was still in Timaru, the annual ministry at Sandringham House seemed satisfactory. After moving to Oamaru in July 2024, we began to pray about how the church could better minister to the residents, now that we are based in Oamaru.

When I met the rest home owner last year, I offered my availability to be an on-call pastor to minister to a dying resident, which she appreciated. Apart from my regular visitation, the rest home has become a regular focus of prayer, as we pray for the residents, staff, and management.

About two years ago, one resident began attending our Sunday service. A friend who visits her became a church member and invited her to join. This church member stops by the rest home every Sunday to accompany her to church.

In December 2024, a couple from our church moved in. They chose Sandringham House because it is near the Baptist church. Thus, three people from Sandringham House are now attending our worship service.

At the start of 2025, we learned that the couple had to be wheelchair-bound for health and safety reasons. This sparked our wheelchair ministry with Sandringham House.

The church members take turns facilitating our members who use wheelchairs to church before the 10:00 AM worship starts and returning them home afterwards.

After doing the wheelchair routine for over two months, we learned another resident wanted to attend church. As there are only two wheelchairs available at the rest home, we were unable to bring this resident to church.

Additionally, wheelchairs may be unavailable on Sunday mornings due to increased demand. To address this risk and accommodate other residents wishing to attend the Sunday service, the church initiated fundraising efforts for two additional wheelchairs.

A generous church member offered to purchase the wheelchairs while the church raises funds.

The new wheelchairs arrived last week, and three attendees used them during the Sunday worship service on April 13. This brings the number of rest home residents attending our Sunday worship to four.

Thanks to M, our friendly octogenarian church member, who regularly visits J and other residents. She has encouraged two residents to join the Sunday worship.

We thank the Lord for C and B, who minister to and pray for their fellow residents, encouraging them to worship with them at the nearby church, among other prayer requests.

In God’s timing, a ministry has flourished. To God be the glory!

The fundraising for the two wheelchairs is ongoing. Please use the Oamaru Baptist Church account number at ANZ: 06-0941-0015036-00. Label or put “wheelchair” in the reference.

Thank you, and God bless you!

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
    From the house of the Lord we bless you. Psalm 118:26

How Jesus’s Triumphal Entry to Jerusalem Can Be Our True Victory

Was Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem truly triumphant? The crowd expected him to claim his kingship and overthrow the Roman government, but this did not happen.

In celebration of Palm Sunday, I want to share this brief reflection. ➔ CLICK TO READ MORE

Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday Schedule

We will hold a Good Friday Service on 18 April at 3:00 PM. We will celebrate the last seven statements of Jesus Christ on the cross.

The Resurrection Sunday will be held on the regular Sunday time at 10:00 AM.

Share your “Resurrection” Stories

“‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again;
he was lost and is found.’” (Luke 15-31-32)

On 20 April, Resurrection Sunday, I invite you to share your “resurrection” story. As many of you might remember from previous celebrations, we share stories about how God has revived, revitalised, or renewed our lives. Please share in three to five minutes. Thank you!

Be a Part of Our Task Roster

OBC needs your participation in the task roster. Join our task roster.

Please actively engage in our worship and service community and brighten our church community. Please write your name on the roster sheet at the tea service area.

If you have any questions about the tasks that interest you or need further details, don’t hesitate to contact Bevan, our pastor, or anyone else for help. Your involvement makes a difference—thank you!

Join the church task roster, where the only qualification is availability.

An evening of music and testimony with Jules Riding

On 7th May, at 7:00 PM, Jules Riding, an NZ Christian singer doing a South Island tour, will share his music and testimony at the OBC auditorium.

He titles this event “Finding God in the Wilderness, ” a mix of songs and the Word. Your koha or donations are appreciated.

The wheelchairs have arrived

As announced last Sunday, two new wheelchairs have been purchased, and they arrived this week for use this Sunday.

The arrival of these wheelchairs means that one or two more from Sandringham House could attend our worship service.

For those who want to contribute towards these items, please write “wheelchair” as the reference.

Giving

We are truly grateful for your unwavering support of the ministries entrusted to us by the Lord God. Your generous contributions play a vital role in furthering the mission and deepening the impact of His work. Thank you for being an essential part of the church’s journey.

If you want to set up automatic payments for regular giving or make a one-time donation via online banking, please use the Oamaru Baptist Church account number at ANZ: 06-0941-0015036-00.

May the Lord God abundantly bless you and lovingly watch over you.

I titled the first part “The Good, the Bad, and the Life,” which sounds like the famous 1960s movie The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly. However, ours is a real-life version that doesn’t get ugly but results in a beautiful life.

Before discussing the “Good” part, do you know why chickens scratch the ground?

God created man and woman to be very GOOD (Genesis 1:26-27; 31)

The notion of being created in the “likeness” of God beautifully emphasizes the profound dignity and immeasurable worth of every human being.

The two critical trees in the middle of the garden (Genesis 2:8-9)

Genesis 2:8-9 says:

⁸ Now the Lord God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed. 

⁹ The Lord God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground—trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

In most illustrations and depictions of the creation in our Sunday schools or church presentations, we see only one tree with red fruits, often labelled as “apples” to simplify things.

The trees in God’s garden were pleasing to the eye and good for food. And yes, there were two trees in the middle of the plantation.

The BAD Fall

How the serpent tempted the women

• It casts doubt on the woman (3:1)
• It gave a dishonest affirmation (3:4-5).

MAN AND WOMAN – How the woman and man fell (3:6)

• By her senses, eyes and taste (3:6)
• By their ambition to be “like God” (3:6)
• By sharing the fruit of the forbidden tree (3:6)

How God responds to the bad fall

• Confronts them (3:9-13): Where are you?
• Stipulates the consequences (3:14-20)

The LIFE – “Redemption 101”

The Lord God is our Almighty Creator, and He cannot destroy what He created in His image.

So, God made garments of skin to clothe Adam and his wife. He affirmed that “the man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil,” but He took away the privilege of eternal life.

Rediscovering the “LIFE” we lost

We are on a quest to rediscover and regain the “life” we lost because of Adam and Eve’s bad fall in the Garden of Eden.

Returning to our chicken story, we have had a similar experience to the chickens. In nature, chickens diligently scratch the ground to uncover nourishment for themselves and their young.

Isn’t this a reflection of most people today? They labor tirelessly, striving to carve out a living, yet many find themselves falling short of the rich, fulfilling life that God intended for them.

In contrast to chickens, which a lurking and preying hawk may hunt, we are embraced by the Almighty God, who longs to redeem us.

Ever since we fell from the garden, we have been engrossed in dealing with the good and evil of this world. Many are happy to be stuck believing life is about knowing what is good and bad for them.

The true meaning of life is not merely about identifying what is good and evil and choosing the good, but rather about being empowered to “reach out our hands, take from the tree of life, eat, and live forever.”

Let us not neglect our need to focus on finding true life. We will conclude this series next Sunday.

Twelve people attended the first Life of Christ session on Sunday, March 30th, at 1:00 PM at the OBC Tea area.

Six more are joining in another class schedule we will set this week.

With a potential total of 18 persons, we will divide the participants into three groups.

In case you haven’t read our previous post, The Life of Christ by SEAN (Study by Extension for All Nations) is the discipleship course that OBC is undertaking.

Let us pray for inspiration and encouragement for all our Life of Christ learners so that they may find the strength and motivation to finish the course.

Our next session will be on Sunday, April 6, at 1:00 PM at the same venue.

Faith Growth Lessons from Our Lemon Grass

We thought our lemongrass wouldn’t make it (see the brown stems on the upper right portion), as the colour indicates it is nearly dying.

Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) is easy to grow in the tropical Philippines. Its lemon-like scent makes it a good herb for cooking and medicine.

Read this short inspirational, an illustration about not becoming weary in doing good. ➔ CLICK TO READ MORE

9th March Annual General Meeting

Our Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held on Sunday, 9 March 2025, at 11:00 AM at the OBC Auditorium.

We will start our worship service at our regular time, but we will have a short one on Sunday to accommodate our AGM.

Please read the AGM documents that were emailed two weeks ago. Bring your copy during the meeting.

NZBU President, Allan Taylor, will be our guest speaker on 16 March

Our church is honoured and privileged to have Allan Taylor, President of the New Zealand Baptist Union, as our guest speaker on 16th March.

Allan dedicated 44 years to full-time pastoral ministry within the Baptist Church, during which he served seven years as assistant pastor at Te Atatu Baptist and 37 years as senior pastor at Eastgate Christian Centre. His extensive experience reflects a deep commitment to his faith and community.

Hearing God’s message from His seasoned servant will bless us all. Let us pray for God’s protection and provision of health and wisdom for Allan as he travels to join us on March 16th.

CONGRATULATIONS!

OBC LADIES for holding a successful morning tea fellowship at the church tea area last Saturday, 1 March. Twelve ladies attended their first fellowship for the year.

ABUNDANT LIFE TEE-ers for finishing the “Abundant Life: The Life of Jesus In You” on Sunday, 2 March. It has been an almost two-year journey. There were many disruptions, but I sincerely appreciate the commitment and dedication of our learners.

Join the Life of Christ Course

We are launching the Life of Christ Course on 16 March 2025. You are invited to join the orientation meeting on 16 March at 1:30 PM.

Please talk to Jonan for more details about the course. Thank you!

Upcoming OSBA Events

Please pray for the following events in the Otago-Southland Baptist Association region in March and April. Let us pray for good health and safe travels for all participants.

• 2025 Regional Hui on 14-15 March at Gore Baptist Church.
• Connected Across the South 2025 – Regional Women’s event on 5 April, 10 am to 3:30 pm at Dunedin City Baptist Church. OBC women are encouraged to join this event.

Happy 2025! Please take the time to read a couple of inspirational posts that Mary and Marcia authored, respectively.

A Prayer for the New Year

BY MARY MASON

Heavenly Father, thank you for extending my days so that I could be here today with these others who love you and reverence your Holy name. We welcome this New Year not knowing what lies ahead, but you know. ➔ CLICK TO READ MORE

---

Who Am I?

BY MARCIA SHARPE

Who am I…? Who am I to give Hope to people affected by cancer? When I can barely manage the common cold? Or a bruise on my shin?

➔ CLICK TO READ MORE

Important 1st Quarter 2025 Organisational Plans

We thank our Lord God Almighty for re-growing BC in the past two-plus years. As we move towards reorganising in the first quarter of 2025, let us take note of the following:

• Install new members on 19 January 2025. Please approach Bevan or Jonan if you wish to become a member. Any person who confesses faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, who has been Baptised (by immersion) as a believer, who shows evidence of following Christ in the newness of life and who is willing to uphold the commitments as outlined in the Members’ Pledge may apply to become a Church member.
  
  
• Please think and pray about two or three members we will nominate to the Eldership between now and mid-February 2025. We will publish more details about this.
  
  
• We are looking at reframing our Constitution and By-Laws to fit the present church’s context and situation in February 2025.
  
  
• We will hold our annual general meeting (AGM) Pastor’s 2025. The annual reports, namely the Pastor’s report, the Leadership Team’s report, and the Financial report will be available in February.

Let us pray for these 1st Quarter 2025 plans. Thank you.

Be a Part of our Task Roster

OBC is your church, and we warmly invite you to join our task roster.

Joining this roster is not just a commitment; it’s a chance for you to actively engage in worship and service, contributing to the vibrant life of our church community.

Please write your name on the rostering sheet on the table next to our tea area.

If you have any questions about the tasks that interest you or need further details, don’t hesitate to contact Bevan, our pastor, or anyone else for help. Your involvement makes a difference—thank you!

Join the church task roster where the only qualification is availability.

“Abundant Life” Bible Study 19 January at 1:00 PM

We are still at it! We will tackle Lesson 15 of our “Abundant Life” study session on Sunday, 19 January, at 1:00 PM.

Please come with your workbook (Lesson 15) filled out and be ready to participate in our learning session.

OBC is building a dynamic discipleship culture. Everyone is invited to join. Let us learn about God through His word.

Online Writing and Website Management Seminars

I am launching two training seminars for interested persons: Online Writing and Website Management. These seminars aim to develop people who can assist in publishing content for the church’s website.

The seminars are open to everyone interested. Please come to me to be enrolled. Then, we will meet to decide on the seminar date in January 2025.

Four days after celebrating Christmas Day and three more days before New Year’s Day, let us bring these critical takeaways as we start 2025.

Who doesn’t love takeaways? For those unfamiliar, a takeaway is where you can buy food to eat somewhere else or just the food you buy to take away. People love takeaways because they’re super convenient and usually cheaper than a sit-down restaurant. Fish and chips are the most popular takeaway food in NZ.

I am also thinking of the bountiful foods we prepared to celebrate Christmas, either on noche buena if you are Filipino or Hispanic, or on Christmas Day lunch, and sharing it as takeaways for family and friends who have joined us.

But that is as far as physical food is concerned. As the New Year comes, we must carry crucial takeaways to meet all the challenges that 2025 will bring.

Based on Matthew 2:1-12 narrative of the Magi’s visit to the Messiah, let us discover the lessons we must possess as we celebrate and live through the new year 2025.

1. Faith and Commitment

• The birth of Jesus Christ ignited fervour among the faithful community, eagerly anticipating the arrival of the Messiah.
• The time of Herod helps us figure out when Jesus was born. Jesus came into the world sometime before Herod the Great died, probably around 4 BC. The exact date of Jesus’ birth is still a bit of a mystery.
• Wise men from the East came: These travellers are called wise men, derived from the ancient Greek term “magi.” There are many misconceptions and legends surrounding these individuals. They were not kings; instead, they were wise men and astronomers.
• While it is commonly believed that there were only three of them, likely, there was a larger group. Furthermore, they probably did not visit the newborn on the night of his birth but several months later.
• There was a strong expectation of the Messiah’s arrival among the Jews, yet the wise men realized they were among the few genuinely excited to find the newborn Messiah. There was a notable lack of enthusiasm in Jerusalem.

The dedication and bravery of the Magi from the East are extraordinary, considering the challenges of their journey and the dangers they faced while travelling. They left their comfort zones to seek and worship the newborn King, Jesus Christ.

2. Earnestness

In Matthew’s narrative, we have two character types who are insincere.

First, the chief priests and teachers of the law were aware of the prophecy regarding the birth of the king of the Jews (verses 5-6), yet they failed to recognise and accept that the Messiah had indeed been born.

This makes me reflect that there are Christians who are only Christians by name. These Christians have vast knowledge of the Bible but don’t have the capacity or refuse to follow what the Bible says. There are many Christians who are insincere in their faith, Christians in name but not by heart.

Second, Herod plotted to kill Jesus by pretending he wanted to worship him.  Ironically, Herod believed the prophecy, perhaps out of fear that the “king of the Jews has been born” and will replace him. Having been outwitted by the Wisemen, he ordered the massacre of children in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under (Matthew 2:16).

There are Christians who are like Herod; they believe in God’s prophecies but detest the thought of surrendering fully their lives to Him. Instead, it is their SELF that reigns in their hearts. These insincere Christians will not hesitate to cut off any Godly influence and leadership in their hearts, but they are satisfied to pretend to be Christians.

Let us be like the Wisemen who earnestly sought the born king of the Jews, followed his star when it rose, and worshipped Jesus when they found him.

Devotion

I am presenting the four elements of the Magi’s devotion to Jesus, which we can follow.

The Magi followed the star of Jesus (or the Start of Bethlehem) as it seemingly persisted in its guiding role, appearing at pivotal moments along the Wisemen’s journey like an ethereal beacon in the night sky. Its initial glow graced them months prior, subtly steering their quest toward the broader region they sought.

Following this, their travels led them to the ancient city of Jerusalem, where they gathered vital knowledge and insights. As their search unfolded, the star reemerged, radiating luminous intensity to offer precise directions through the darkened paths ahead.

Its appearances were nothing short of a supernatural marvel, leaving them in awe of the divine guidance that seemed to transcend the ordinary realm of understanding.

The Star of Bethlehem is widely regarded as more than just a natural phenomenon, remaining a mystery that science has yet to unravel. This extraordinary light is described as leading the Magi from Jerusalem to Bethlehem, ultimately hovering directly above the location where Joseph and Mary were residing. Notably, no documented celestial event is known to follow such a specific and purposeful path.

Jesus Christ embodies God’s glory, which was revealed on earth 2,000+ years ago. In our devotion to God, we follow Jesus Christ, guided by the Holy Spirit. The Wisemen exemplified the importance of seeking and following Jesus relentlessly.

The Wisemen were overjoyed (Matthew 2:10) – Overjoy means “to cause someone to feel extremely happy or joyful, or to fill someone with great joy.”

The Magi were overjoyed seeing the star “stopped over the place where the child was.”  Overjoy is a feeling when you think you are going nowhere or you are considering whether you are on the right track or not, and suddenly you see from afar something that assures you that you’re on the right path.

Overjoy is like driving the Central Otago’s “Pigroot” (or a few call it the “Pig Route”) for the first time. The name “Pigroot” applies to the section of SH85 between Palmerston and Ranfurly.

I have driven through the Pigroot many times, and during my first trip, I kept wondering when it would end. It feels disorienting to see the natural scenery until you ascend from the valley and see the towns dotting from the distance. That gave me an overjoyed feeling.

When the Magi saw the star settle over the place where the child Jesus was, they were so happy. At last, we know where the King is!

They bowed down and worshipped him (Matthew 2:11)

In verse 11, the arrival of the wise men at their home reveals that Joseph and Mary transitioned from the manger to a residence after Jesus’ birth. This suggests they remained in Bethlehem or nearby Jerusalem, allowing Mary to fulfil the 40 days of purification mandated by Jewish law.

Jesus is referred to as a young child, likely between 6 and 18 months old. Notably, the child is mentioned before the mother, contrary to custom, indicating that the child’s status as the Saviour takes precedence.

How did the Wiseman worship?

• Bowed down –  (Gk pesontes) fall down;
• Worshipped – (Gk prosekynēsan) prostrate oneself in homage;

Yes, they worshipped HIM (emphasis mine). The Magi did not worship Mary, Joseph, or the child with Mary and Joseph. They worshipped only him!

They worship in deep reverence by falling prostrate before the child King.

They gave generously to Jesus.

 Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.

• TREASURES – a storehouse for precious things;
• GIFTS – many and not only one of each kind;

Because the Magi brought a storehouse of gifts, there is no way that only three of them travelled to find Jesus. I imagined the Magi bringing with them servants to carry and guard the treasures they got for the newborn King.

The valuable gifts were given directly to Jesus, not Mary or Joseph. While the infant Jesus did not use these gifts, Joseph and Mary, responsible and Godly parents, wisely used them for His benefit. Presumably, the family spent their gifts of gold as they went and lived in Egypt to escape Herod’s persecution.

We also practice generosity in our devotion to God. When we give to Jesus today, we channel it through the church to the people He called to serve, with the confidence that the leaders will use your gifts wisely on His behalf.

Conclusion

Let me briefly share my encounter with a fruit grower association leader from Hawke’s Bay on a plane from Auckland to Singapore, an 11-hour flight. I was in the middle seat, and he was in the aisle, meaning Jewel and I had to “bother” him whenever we went to the toilet.

When I introduced myself, that I’m a pastor and we’re on our way to attend a conference in Malaysia and hold a seminar in the Philippines, he said he’s a born-again Christian.

Then, he shared how God carried him, and co-farmers rose from Cyclone Gabrielle’s destruction to their region. He said that his faith and their church’s prayers and support encouraged him to lead the farmers despite their hopelessness and defeat by Cyclone Gabrielle’s devastations.

Severe Tropical Cyclone Gabrielle was a destructive tropical cyclone that devastated parts of the North Island of New Zealand and affected parts of Vanuatu and Australia in February 2023. It is the costliest tropical cyclone on record in the Southern Hemisphere, with total damage estimated to be NZ$14.5 billion (US$9.2 billion), of which NZ$3.18 billion (US$2 billion) are insurance losses. The cost of the cyclone in Hawke’s Bay alone was estimated to outstrip NZ$5 billion (US$3.17 billion).

Source: Wikipedia

You might ask what this testimony has to do with the “Christmas takeaways for the New Year” we’re talking about.

Isn’t it that unforgettable events, such as severe natural calamities, tend to be remembered and talked about for centuries?

I could imagine the wise men travelling leisurely on their journey back, feeling more at ease. They eagerly shared their transformative experiences with everyone they met, and, in every place, they rested for the night.

I can easily envision the Wisemen, surrounded by their families, servants, friends, and community, captivated by their compelling stories of encountering and worshipping the newborn King, Jesus Christ.

F.A.C.E.D. – Faith and commitment, Earnestness, and Devotion are the important Christmas takeaways we must always bring in 2025 and the many New Years to come.

Faith and commitment, Earnestness, and Devotion are the non-consumables and everlasting takeaways we carry along as we share our personal encounters and life experiences with Jesus Christ.

Have a blessed 2025. Happy New Year!