Tag: Christianity

Christianity

Don’t lose your joy this Christmas!

Posted on by David L'Herroux

We are living in a world full of joy killers, even at Christmas. The enemy’s agenda has always been the same: to steal, kill, and destroy. Yet, I love encountering people who are infectious with joy, a joy that flows from the true source of all joy, despite the circumstances they may face.

The apostle Paul understood this well. Writing from challenging circumstances, he repeatedly encouraged believers to “rejoice in the Lord always” (Philippians 4:4). Joy, then, is not dependent on stability, comfort, or ease; it is a choice rooted in faith and sustained by relationship with God.

In a volatile and uncertain world, it is easy for joy to fade. When life feels unpredictable and the future unclear, holding onto joy can seem difficult. Yet the Christmas message reminds us that joy is not anchored in what surrounds us, but in who Christ is. “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son…” Christmas declares that we were never meant to simply survive life, but to live in the fullness God intended and to experience true and lasting joy.

Joy must be rooted in personal faith. When we believe and embrace the Christmas story in its fullness, joy becomes more than a feeling, it becomes a way of living. God also calls us to be carriers of His joy. Scripture reminds us that we are helpers of joy (2 Corinthians 1:24). Every time we point someone to Christ, we partner with God in restoring joy in their lives. What a calling, especially at Christmas.

I’ve spoken with many people whose joy has been buried under pressure, disappointment, or weariness. The enemy works tirelessly even to discourage God’s people, particularly during a season meant for celebration. The Lord has reminded me that if we are to help others experience joy, we must choose to live it ourselves. This happens as we immerse our hearts in God’s Word and are continually reminded of the Gospel, that Christ’s desire is for our joy to be full (John 15:11).

So how do we guard our joy?

  • Don’t lose your smile. “A joyful heart makes a cheerful face” (Proverbs 15:13).
  • Don’t lose your laughter. “A merry heart does good like medicine” (Proverbs 17:22).
  • Don’t lose your song. “Sing for joy to God our strength” (Psalm 81:1).

Joy flows from the heart. It isn’t forced; it is cultivated. George Müller once said that the first thing he intentionally did each morning was to get his heart happy in the Lord, and from that joy came strength for everything God had called him to do.

Christianity is not a religion it is a relationship marked by joy through our union with Christ. Christmas truly is good news of great joy. In a world that often feels unstable, don’t allow the enemy to steal what God has given.

May your Christmas be filled with joy, deep, resilient, and overflowing.

Have a wonderful Christmas full of joy!

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Christianity

The power of choice

Posted on by David L'Herroux

CHOICES MADE TODAY WILL FOR SURE AFFECT OUR TOMORROW. 

As we begin 2026 new chapter, Paul’s words in Philippians 4:1–8 offer great wisdom and spiritual clarity. These intentional steps of faith affirm our identity, belief, behaviour, and ultimately our destiny.

Let’s walk through them together:

1. “Stand fast in the Lord, beloved.”

Choose to be anchored in your identity. You are loved, not for what you do, but for who you are in Christ.

2. “Be of the same mind in the Lord.”

Choose unity. Resolve conflict intentionally. Never forget, division delays destiny.

3. “Rejoice in the Lord always.”

Choose joy. Not circumstantial happiness, but Spirit-rooted rejoicing. Joy is resistance. Joy is warfare.

4. “In everything by prayer…”

Choose prayer. Make it your lifestyle, not your emergency calls.

5. “Be anxious for nothing…”

Choose response over reaction. Anxiety shrinks vision. Prayer expands peace.

6. “Meditate on these things…”

Choose to protect your mind. Remember your thoughts shape your beliefs. Your beliefs shape your destiny.

As we journey 2026, let’s do so with:

•  Gratitude for what God has done.

•  Faith for what He’s about to do.

•  Purpose that refuses to settle.

•  Prayer that refuses to quit.

So, let’s walk into this year with courage in our step and surrender in our hearts, united, expectant, anchored, and ready for the story God is still unfolding.

For our future is not something we wait for. It’s something we build, choice by choice, step by step, in Christ.

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Christianity

New Year’s resolutions that truly last

Posted on by David L'Herroux

“Therefore I will look unto the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me.” Micah 7:7 (KJV)

We are still in the opening weeks of January. As one year ended and another began, many people around the world set new goals and intentions, commonly known as New Year resolutions. A fresh year often brings fresh motivation, but experience tells us that good intentions can quickly fade. The question is not whether we make resolutions, but whether we choose ones that will truly sustain us.

Micah 7:7 offers us a set of resolutions that never expire. Written against a backdrop of turmoil and uncertainty, this verse reminds us that God remains faithful even when the world feels unstable. Within this single verse, Micah reveals three powerful, timeless commitments that provide direction for every believer:

  • “Look unto the Lord” – Faith
  • “Wait for the God of my salvation” – Patience
  • “My God will hear me” – Trust

These are not temporary objectives, but spiritual resolutions that anchor us throughout every season of life.

1. A Resolution of Faith: Look Unto the Lord

Micah begins by fixing his focus on God. Faith is not merely believing in God, it is choosing to live with our eyes set on Him. Scripture reminds us that “we walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7). As we move through this year, our journey must be shaped by God’s promises rather than by what we see around us. When we allow God’s Word to guide us, it becomes a lamp to our feet and a light for our path.

2. A Resolution of Patience: Wait for God

Waiting does not come easily, yet Micah understood that strength is renewed in the waiting. Isaiah 40:31 assures us that those who wait on the Lord will rise with renewed strength. Patience grows when we trust God’s timing, remembering that He “makes everything beautiful in its time” (Ecclesiastes 3:11).

3. A Resolution of Trust: My God Will Hear Me

Micah’s confidence rests in the certainty that God hears him. This is not wishful thinking; it is trust grounded in God’s character. “The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them” (Psalm 34:17). When we pray, we can be confident that our God listens and responds.

So, Moving Forward

As we continue into this new year, let us embrace these lasting resolutions: to live by faith, to wait with patience, and to trust with confidence. These commitments do not depend on circumstances but on God’s unchanging faithfulness.

May our journey in 2026 be marked by faith, patience, and unwavering trust in the God who hears and answers the cries of His people. And as we make these good resolutions, let us lean on His grace to see them fulfilled for His glory.

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Christianity

Heaven is real

Posted on by David L'Herroux

In 1988, the unthinkable happened in our family when our 13 month old son Jamie, died suddenly. In a blur of blue lights, we raced behind the paramedics as he was rushed to hospital but when we arrived, we were told there was nothing the doctors could do. Jamie had gone to be with the Lord. Later that day as I stood in the Chapel of Rest at the hospital, my heart shattered, I cried out to God and asked Him to bring Jamie back. In the quiet, I felt God speak into my spirit: “He will not come back to you, but you will go to him one day.”

I later learned these were the words God spoke to King David after the loss of his own son. Over the years, those words have given me immense hope and comfort because they remind me that there is a world beyond this one. I believe we will see Jamie again one day. Today, January 16th would have been Jamie’s 38th birthday.  It is almost hard to believe that so much time has passed, as the events of that day still sometimes feel like they happened just yesterday. Throughout the years we have been sustained by one miraculous truth – heaven is real.  If you have lost someone you love, you will know the heartache of earthly loss but I want to encourage you to know and believe that Heaven is not a myth, it is a very real place.

The Scriptures provide a wealth of details about Heaven. It is where God lives (Psalm 23:1) and was designed for us. God doesn’t need a place to live; He is self-sufficient. However, He made Heaven for us. God’s heart was to create a home and a family, and He loves us so much that He has adopted us into His family so that we can spend eternity with Him. But He also gave us a choice. Where we spend eternity will be determined by the choices we make in this life—whether we choose to accept the free gift of Jesus or not.

What is Heaven like?

Jesus said that He would go to prepare a place for us (John 14:3). In Revelation 22, we are given a beautiful picture of a place with trees and a river “clear as crystal” flowing down the middle of the street. Heaven is also described as a place where God’s people will live with Him forever, and where all tears, grief, pain, and death will be wiped away. It is a place where the “old order of things has passed away” (Revelation 21). If you are like me, sometimes you might think: “Lord, it’s dreadful down here…” But the thought of a perfect world to come with no pain gives us great hope.

Living for Today

While we look forward to eternity with great expectancy, it is important to live with purpose while on this Earth—to be fully present in the life we have been given. It is ok to dream and look forward to a day when we can shed our “suit” of flesh and blood, but we should not forget that God has a purpose for us now.

In 2 Corinthians, Paul says that we are ambassadors of Christ. If I was a political ambassador, it would mean that I had an important purpose but that ultimately, I was a citizen of another country. The same is true when we are Christ’s ambassadors. Our appointment and purpose are from God, and we have a heavenly assignment to speak God’s heart to the country and situation we are currently in.

If you are in a difficult situation or have lost someone you love, can I encourage you: Heaven is real. As believers, it is a place we can look forward to with expectancy. I believe that I will one day be reunited with both my son and grandson. But until that day, let’s live for the here and now.

Let’s make it our goal to share this truth, this hope, with as many people as possible until the day God finally calls us home.

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Christianity

Seizing the Power of a Fresh Start

Posted on by David L'Herroux

The Flow of Time

A New Year marks the passing of time – a reminder of the ongoing flow of our lives. Each tick of the clock brings us closer to our dreams or further from our regrets. Embrace this crossing over from one year to the next, for it carries with it the lessons of the past and the promise of the future. As you step into 2025, let time be your teacher, not your enemy. Reflect on the moments that shaped you and use them to fuel your growth: “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom” (Psalm 90:12).

Aligning Your Priorities

A New Year is an opportunity to realign your priorities. What truly matters to you? Is it family, health, personal growth, ministry, or something else? Take this time to evaluate where you are investing your energy and ensure it aligns with your core values. Let 2025 be the year you focus on what truly makes your heart sing: “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matthew 6:33).

Uncovering Your Purpose

Purpose gives life meaning. As you enter a new year, reflect on what drives you. What are you passionate about? What impact do you want to have on the world? Use this moment to refine your sense of purpose and let it guide your actions throughout the year. But remember, your purpose doesn’t have to be grand; it just needs to be true to who you are: “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11).

Crafting Your Vision

A clear vision will transform your life. Think about where you see yourself by the end of 2025. Visualise your goals and the steps needed to achieve them. This is your opportunity to redefine your life’s vision, to dream bigger and reach higher. Let your vision be a beacon that illuminates your path and guides your decisions: “Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it” (Habakkuk 2:2).

Setting Meaningful and Realistic Goals

Goals give structure to our expectations. Take this opportunity to set new, worthwhile goals for the year ahead. Whether they are personal, professional, or spiritual, ensure they are meaningful and realistic. Break them down into smaller steps and celebrate each milestone along the way. Let 2025 be a year of growth, progress, and accomplishment: “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and He will establish your plans” (Proverbs 16:3).

Embracing a Fresh Start

The past is a teacher, not a jailer. Take the lessons learned and leave behind the burdens of the past year. A New Year is a chance to bury past mistakes, regrets, and failures, and to step into a future filled with hope and possibilities. Embrace the fresh start that 2025 offers and move forward with a renewed spirit and determination: “Behold, I am making all things new” (Revelation 21:5).

May this New Year bring you clarity, purpose, and a renewed sense of destiny. Embrace the opportunities that come with the passing of time, and let 2025 be your year of transformation and unprecedented growth.

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Christian Media, Christian Radio, Christianity, Faith, Hope

UCB – Building for Growth: A Message from UCB’s CEO, David L’Herroux

Posted on by David L'Herroux

I am thrilled to share an important update with you as we open a new chapter in the story of United Christian Broadcasters. Since God clarified our vision through a prophetic insight in 2016, I have felt deeply moved by His calling and guided by what we now call, the ‘iSee’ vision – a vision to witness an unprecedented move of God across the UK and beyond. This vision is at the heart of everything we do at UCB, inspiring and driving me every day.

As CEO, my role over the years has grown to encompass the oversight of UCB’s work across Europe and South Africa, and it has been a privilege to serve in this expanded capacity. After much prayer and reflection together with our UCB Board, we strongly feel that within my role as CEO, it is time to focus more fully on an apostolic ministry role, sharing our broader vision and ministry and deepening our impact to our much-needed world. This shift means I will be stepping back from the daily operations of UCB to concentrate on this wider aspect of our mission.

To support this transition, I am delighted to announce that, as of November the first, Mark Oakes has taken on the role of UCB’s Managing Director. Mark brings a great background to this position, with 17 years of experience as the UK Director for Christ for All Nations (CFAN). Over the three years he has been a valuable part of UCB, first as a Trustee on our Board and most recently as our Director of Communications. Mark has a true heart for revival and a deep connection to UCB’s vision, and I am confident he will lead our daily operations with wisdom, dedication, and passion.

In the coming months, Mark and I will work closely together to ensure a seamless transition, keeping UCB on course as we pursue God’s calling. I invite you to join us in prayer for Mark, his wife Kerrie, and their family, as well as for our entire UCB team, as we step into this new and exciting chapter together.
Thank you for your unwavering support, your prayers, and your partnership. This new season represents a significant milestone for UCB, and I believe it will be a season of extraordinary growth and impact. Together, we are building for the future, empowered by a shared mission to bring God’s hope to a world in need

David L’Herroux
Chief Executive

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Christianity

When a Christian leader fails

Posted on by David L'Herroux

Over the past few weeks, I have been deeply shocked and saddened to read the reports about the late apologist Ravi Zacharias. As a broadcasting ministry (both here in the UK and with many of our affiliates across the world), we aired teaching from Ravi Zacharias for some years. In the UK, we stopped broadcasting these teaching programmes in 2015 (due to a change in focus for our radio stations) but when Ravi Zacharias died in 2020, we paid tribute to his life (as we knew it) on UCB Radio and on Social Media.

Today, as more about his life and unconscionable actions are revealed, our hearts ache for the devastation and pain this has caused both to the victims and to the many people who will also feel hurt and confusion to read of these terrible events. We continue to pray that God will bring the kind of restoration and healing that only He can bring.

These events have reminded me personally of how much we need God’s grace and wisdom in our lives as leaders. The enemy’s strategy has always been focused on three main areas: to steal, kill and destroy. This is why Paul reminds us of the importance of putting on the full armour of God – ‘For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.’

However, although we do wage war against an unseen enemy, this in no way belittles sin. Sin is sin, and whether we like it or not, all sin has consequences. I am reminded of the story of David and Bathsheba. David not only committed adultery with another man’s wife, he sought to cover up his sin by murdering Bathsheba’s husband. Although it is very clear in Psalm 51 that David was repentant, he still had to pay the consequences for his actions. 

So as believers (and leaders), how should we respond when we hear reports like these?

1. Firstly, I believe that those who are confused and hurting should be our priority. If we do not know them personally, we can pray for them (God knows their names) and we can ask God to bring transformation, healing, and restoration.

2. We can use reports like these as a ‘check up’ for our own ministries. Are we as accountable as we should be? Do we have proper structures in place to prevent misuse of power and misdeeds? If not, if you are a leader, can I encourage you today to put these structures into place. A crucial (practical) part of putting on our armour is to ensure that there are processes in place to hold ourselves accountable

3. If we have sinned, we have a duty to confess this and put the matter right. We may even have to pay the consequences through loss of a job or status or in some cases, even the loss of family (as King David did) but we must also know that when we are truly repentant, God’s grace has capacity to forgive us. Our lives may never be the same again, but we can know that in the sight of God, we have been forgiven.

In conclusion, let me encourage you as leaders to be very aware of what God has entrusted us with. He has entrusted us with the power to influence for good, and to do that well, we must understand the full weight of this responsibility and make ourselves accountable, first to God but also to some good and trusted people. 

And if you are on the other side of the coin and have been the victim of someone else’s terrible actions and have been hurt or damaged, I want to remind you that God is a healer not just of our physical needs but our emotional and spiritual wounds too. He has not changed and is still in the business today of restoring broken lives. With the right support from good and trusted friends, prayer and counselling, God can once again restore ‘fullness of life’ to you, so that one day you too will be able to be a positive influence in the lives of others.

If you have been hurt by this or other actions, can I encourage you to share this hurt with someone. You could reach out to UCB’s Prayerline, and the team there will pray for you and can point you to organisations which can offer help. You can contact them through our website at www.ucb.co.uk/pray

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Christianity

Going home another way

Posted on by David L'Herroux

After all we have been through in 2020, I think it is impossible to still be the same! I don’t know about you, but I want to take as much as I can from all that happened last year and allow God to use it for good.

Just before Christmas, I was reading Matthew 2:11, which tells the story of the birth of Jesus. We are told that the wise men ‘departed into their own country another way’. In other words, their plans changed and they went home a different route to the one they had planned.

The wise men travelled miles to see Jesus the King of the Jews, and when they found Him, they responded with joy, sincere worship, and abundant gifts. To be honest, it was quite different from the way many people approach God today! Many people tend to expect God to come looking for them, prove Himself to them, and give them gifts. However, we are told that after the wise men found Jesus and worshipped Him, they went home another way. What does that mean to us today?

1.  When you encounter Jesus in your life, you can never be the same again

Having an encounter with Jesus means our life has to take a different direction, and just as the wise men (after being in the presence of the Living God) were changed, so must we be changed too. After the unprecedented experience of the last twelve months, I do not believe that we can move into 2021 the same way that we entered 2020.

As I look through God’s Word, I am amazed to read story after story of people who experienced an encounter with the Almighty God and could not ‘return home’ the same way. Their lives were turned upside down and their direction changed.

Let’s look at a few examples of people ‘going home another way’.

Mark 5:1-20 — The demon possessed man

No man could bind or tame him; he had a legion of demons and was running wildly in a totally possessed state. And then after meeting Jesus, he was totally set free, clothed and in his right mind to the point that he begged Jesus to be able to travel with him. Jesus said: ‘Go home to your friends and tell them the great things the Lord’s done.’

Let me tell you: he definitely went home ‘another way’ – joyful, dancing, praising God, and telling many what Jesus had done for him.

John 8:3-11 -The woman caught in the act of adultery

By law she shouldn’t have gone home at all (never mind another way). She should have been stoned to death. But as she encountered Jesus, He said to her: ‘Go and sin no more.’ And she went home another way!

Luke 19:1-10 – Zacchaeus  

Jesus stood still, lifted his eyes, and called Zacchaeus down from the tree: ‘Zacchaeus, quickly come down; for this very day I must stay in your house.’ Jesus knew the mess that Zacchaeus‘ house was in! And Scripture tells us that ‘Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord, “behold Lord, half of my goods I give to the poor and if I have taken anything from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.”‘ Jesus said: ‘This day salvation comes to this house.’ He went home not only by another way but with Jesus. How awesome is that!

All those who met with Jesus, all went home different than they came: the woman with the issue of blood, Blind Bartimaeus, the man at the gate called ‘Beautiful’, the crowds on the day of Pentecost. I tell you that even those in the upper room – they all went home different than the way they came: full of the Holy Ghost and totally transformed.

I believe we will discover in this new year that many are entering 2021 totally transformed because of what they have experienced in 2020. But at the same time, we also have to be aware of the enemy’s strategy to ‘steal, kill and destroy’ if we do not take heed of God’s instructions.

Matthew 2 tells us: ‘So the wise men decided not to go back to Herod as he’d commanded them, but to go home by another way…’ Herod’s intention was to find Jesus – he certainly didn’t plan to worship Jesus as king but rather to kill him and destroy all what he stood for. In this there are warnings for all of us:

1. Not everyone is going to embrace your visions and dreams, hence it is wise sometimes to keep them to yourself to prevent the enemy from killing what God has given you.

2. Remember that the enemy hates your experience of transformation and will tempt you in every way for you to return home ‘the same way’ and deny what God has done for you.

3. Be sensitive to the voice of the Divine Shepherd, for His instruction is for your good: to protect you from the wiles of the enemy.

Don’t ever forget that just as God dealt with Herod – who set out to destroy Jesus and everything that He stood for over 2 thousand years ago – God dealt with Satan, who then too tried to kill him. Praise God that Jesus arose on the third day triumphant and glorious that you and I might be victorious too!

And because of this victory and this transformation experience, we can enter this New Year full of joy, full of worship, ready to fulfil the assignment that we have been given for His glory. Therefore today make sure that ‘YOU GO HOME ANOTHER WAY!’

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Christianity

God has already provided the answers

Posted on by David L'Herroux

In a previous blog, ‘How to turn a crisis into a testimony’, I wrote about the people of Israel and how they quickly turned from rejoicing to murmuring when they hit difficult times. 

As I have been continuing to look at Exodus 15, I have been reminded that in the middle of a crisis, our response to what is happening is very important. As Moses faced the people, who were angry and irritable because of the lack of water, I love his response. He could have sought to justify himself, but instead he did not reply. In verse 25, it says that his first response was to go to the Lord to intercede on behalf of the people. And guess what: it says ‘The Lord showed him a tree’. And as Moses threw a branch into the water ‘the waters were made sweet.’

As I studied these verses, several things came to mind.

A tree does not grow overnight

Any gardener knows just how long trees take to grow – many, many years. God used a tree to bring help to the people of Israel, which means that God created an answer long before there was even a problem. And I believe He has done that for us too. Whatever bitter waters we find ourselves in today, God has already gone ahead of us, making sure that the answer is there and ready just when we face our most bitter crisis. 

The answer was right there

In this particular situation, the answer was right there in front of their eyes, but they could not see it! In my experience, I have learned that often God’s answers are so close, and yet we can fail to see them. This is just like the widow with the small jug of oil in 2 Kings 6: the answer to her problem was there in her own house already, but she needed the prophet Elisha to reveal it to her. Can I encourage you that if you know the Lord as your personal saviour, then the answer to your situation is hidden within you, just as the same spirit that rose Christ from the dead also lives in you.

A miracle tree

In this story, God used a tree to make bitter waters sweet, but that tree also reminds me of the tree that Jesus died on over 2000 years ago. God threw his beloved son on to a tree to take the bitter sin of humanity so that anyone who believes in him would be able to discover the sweetness of life. You see, through Jesus we can not only have life, but we can experience abundant life. 

Whatever situation you find yourself in today, whether it is the stress caused by the global situation or you are facing your own private ‘bitter waters’, I would like to encourage you that the answer to your problems lies in Jesus Christ, who also lives in you. You might say ‘David, I don’t know what to do or where to turn.’ Well, my advice is to at least call on his name. He promises us this in Psalm 50: ‘Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.’  

He who never changes is able to bring peace to your bitter storm. Try it and see what happens.

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Christian Media, Christian Radio, Christianity, Devotional, Evangelism, Faith, Healing, Hope, Miracles

Don’t despise ‘small beginnings’. (Zechariah 4-10)

Posted on by David L'Herroux

In December 2013, I attended the funeral of a dear lady who was 99 years old. She had served God faithfully in the church (which my brother pastors in France), and for many years, her heart’s desire was to see a revival. In almost every meeting, her voice could be heard: ‘Lord, send yet again, a revival!’

I had the privilege of attending her funeral, and it was a truly remarkable occasion where the presence of God was felt so powerfully. My brother Daniel said to me ‘You need to preach in church on Sunday’, and the following weekend, which was the last Sunday of 2013, as I spoke, we began to see and feel the expectation level in the church rising up in an unprecedented way. This led to the beginning of a mighty move of God, and over the next few years, this move of God would lead to many people becoming saved and experiencing healing.

Sometimes I look back and wonder if the funeral of our dear 99-year-old friend was actually the spark that lit a flame. Although she did not live to see it, her faithful prayers over the years led to a new move of God.

I have been thinking about this recently as I have been closely watching world events.

All around us, large churches, which have seen 1000s of members walk through their doors each week, have had to go ‘back to basics’ and meet in small, sometimes online groups. Throughout the Covid crisis, we have been forced to look at how we do things smaller, rather than how we make them bigger.

And we are learning how to not despise ‘small beginnings’.

Just like our 99-year-old friend in the church, her prayer life may have seemed ‘small’ to some, but I believe her faithfulness (even to the end of her life) led to something very big being ignited.

Please don’t get me wrong. I love to see churches filled with many members, but I also believe that there is Biblical precedent for small gatherings too.

In Mark 5, Jesus goes to the home of Jairus to pray for Jairus’ daughter who was very sick. When Jesus arrived there, the Scripture tells us that there were many people present, many of whom were crying loudly and wailing. And Jesus quickly sent them out of the house so that there were just a few left.

It was in that very ‘small’ moment that an incredible miracle occurred, and the little girl, who by this point was dead, was now brought back to life. Often times, we can devalue and overlook what is seemingly little.

As Coronavirus has impacted churches all across the world and forced them back to ‘small beginnings’, it would be easy to see this as a setback, but what if this is a divine strategy to usher in a move of God like we have never seen before?

Matthew 18:20 says ‘Where 2 or 3 are gathered in my name, there I will be with them.’

The presence of God is just as powerful and real in a small gathering as He is present in a large gathering.

Even here at UCB, our wider team (of more than 100 staff and volunteers) is not able to meet together in person, but I am hearing stories of UCB teams meeting together online, sharing Bible studies, praying for each other in new ways.

I firmly believe that for us as an organisation, we will not be ‘returning to normal’. This pandemic is forcing us to think in new ways and to not ‘despise small beginnings’.

Throughout history, God has used small groups of people to ignite something big. From the disciples (just a group of 12 men) to people like my praying friend, small groups of faithful people have been powerfully used by God to usher in great moves of the Spirit.

If you are part of something ‘small’ today, can I encourage you to have a bigger vision for it? By embracing something small and allowing God to use it, you could be part of ushering in a new move of God.

DLH-blog-Smallbeginnings-images

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