Letter to the Congregations: 10th May 2025

Our Dear Brethren,

This year has been a year of change. A new president of the United States. New leaders in Canada and various European countries. A new pope elected. Even a new president chosen for the United Church of God. Many people feel uneasy about these changes and the effects they may have on our lives. I don’t want to downplay the effects that leadership changes have on churches, governments, and individuals, but I think it’s important to acknowledge the fact that these types of changes have been going on for a very long time.

We should be reminded that God raises up leaders and brings them down again. And He also uses the successes and failures leaders of nations and churches to further His plans. But until the Son of God returns to this earth, these changes will continue to occur. Do we let such changes shake us? Are we troubled by the unknown? Or are we comforted by the fact that the plans of God continue forward regardless of the plans of mankind?

“Jesus Christ,” the Head of the true Church of God, “is the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). His sacrifice was planned out even before there were any nations of men on the earth. His perfect leadership has endured and will continue to endure as He continues leading us according to the will of His Father. His return is imminent and will happen at His Father’s command, not when we think it should but when He knows it should. Does this bring us comfort in the face of uncertainty and change beyond our control? Do we pray that our Father’s “will be done on earth as it is in heaven” and do we mean it sincerely (see Matthew 6:10)? Or do we instead complain and worry when we are frustrated and unsure?

Jesus promised that His Church would endure through all the changes that happen around us, saying, “the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it” (see Matthew 16:18). Although He rhetorically questions whether or not He would find faith on the earth when He returns, we do read about those “who are alive and remain” when He returns who will be resurrected, changed, and “caught up together with” the dead in Christ who will rise first. And so we comfort one another with these words of surety, the knowledge of the steadfast love of our Father and of His Christ, and the faith we have in Their coming Kingdom which will never end.

Our love is with you,

Lewis VanAusdle

Pastor, United Church of God

NYC, NJ, CT, Malawi, Zimbabwe