Letter to the Congregations: 26th July 2025

Our Dear Brethren,

In the evening after they had kept the Passover together, Judas Iscariot having already left them to betray his Teacher, Jesus and the eleven remaining disciples walked along the road across the Kidron Valley. As they walked down one side of the valley and up the other, Jesus spoke a few more parables to them. And He also took time to pray to His Father. He prayed for these faithful men and the other followers who had learned many things from Him during His ministry. He also prayed for those who would come after them, “those who will believe in Me through their word” (see John 17:20).

At the beginning of this particular prayer, as He spoke directly to His Father, Jesus gave His disciples a reminder of the great promise that His death would soon make possible:

“Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You, as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him. And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent” (John 17:1-3).

The sacrifice of Jesus Christ paid the price for the sins of all of mankind. Because of the forgiveness we receive, because of that sacrifice, that promise of eternal life is very possible! This prayer of our Savior reminds us that the point of all that God has done and is doing with humanity is so we might have an everlasting relationship with Him and His Son. When we pray for the Kingdom of God to come soon to this earth, when we pray for our trials to end, when we pray for healing and spiritual growth, when we pray for the return of our Savior, ultimately we should remember that we are praying for the beginning of eternal life and the beginning of this everlasting relationship with our Father whose face we haven’t yet seen and His Son who has introduced us to Him.

Brethren, let’s continue to pray for that coming Kingdom and the return of Jesus Christ to this earth so that promise of eternal life can be finally realized and received. And so that eternal relationship can begin and grow stronger forever!

Our love is with you,

Lewis VanAusdle

Pastor, United Church of God

NYC, NJ, CT, Malawi, Zimbabwe