Bible tells us that Jesus healed 10 people who each had leprosy. After realising they were healed, only one of the them returned to thank Jesus. Jesus says, ‘where are the nine?’ (Luke 17:17 NIV).

Sometimes in life, something truly remarkable happens and we can get so caught up in the moment, that we forget to say ‘thank you’. Of course we’re grateful, but in the busyness of life, we can overlook those two simple powerful words – thank you.

We need to stop in the busyness of ministry and give thanks to our Heavenly Father:

Firstly, for the Privilege to serve

1 Peter tells us that ‘Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms’ (1 Peter 4:10-11 NIV). Serving is a form of worship, a way to express gratitude for what Jesus has done for us and to share with others this amazing message of HOPE declared in His Word, that the lives of many more people would be transformed.

So, this year we are very thankful to God for not only having called us for such a time as this, but for having equipped us by His Holy Spirit with a great diversity of gifts throughout the UCB family to overcome these challenging times and increase the ministry output to a new level by reaching, by His grace, even more people than we could imagine.

Secondly, for His Protection

We are so thankful to God for His Word that reminds us of His faithful protection. Psalm 3:3 declares: ‘But You, O Lord, are a shield for me, my glory and the One who lifts up my head.’ To be under God’s shield is to have God as your protector, to trust that God will look out for you and safeguard you. But even more, to have God as your shield means that you are His, you belong to Him, you fight under His shield and He protects you as His own. It means that God has claimed you as His own.

And we can really testify that God’s shield of protection has been very evident throughout this year. That doesn’t mean that we are immune from problems and difficulties as a ministry and it is vitally important to stay faithful to our calling if we are to experience His grace of protection. That’s why we can say thank you to God for His amazing grace. If you will allow Him, God will protect you even from yourself and will assign His angel to protect you as He declared: ‘the angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them’ (Psalm 34:7 NIV).

Thirdly, for His Provision 

To know about Jehovah Jireh is one thing but to experience His grace of provision is another. We thank God for every human resource that he has given us, through staff/volunteers/partners with a diversity of talents to make sure that the ministry can continue to advance in the fulfilment of its vision, and for every financial gift that has been sent throughout 2022.

We know that for many, times are really tough at the moment and because of this, we are so blessed by the many, many people who have committed to give, to pray and to share their resources to enable UCB to continue in the fulfilment of its vision.

At the moment, the world can feel like a dark place, but despite the many challenges we know that God’s Word is needed in our nation more than ever before.

So, every resource given this year allows UCB to take the light, hope and truth of the gospel all across the UK and beyond. To reach people who might never dare to walk inside a church building but might turn on a radio or pick up a copy of the Word For Today devotional. Every gift, small and large, makes a big difference. We are so thankful for each and every one of our audiences who followed God’s prompting in supporting UCB’s ministry. So thanks to our Jehovah Jireh, our ‘PROVIDER’ and you, our PARTNERS, for your obedience.

Let me conclude in declaring loudly that: ‘Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness’ (Lamentations 3:22-23 NIV) – FOR GREAT THINGS HE HAS DONE throughout another very challenging year! Blessed be His name.