By Bruce and Stephanie Beers, Alliance international workers to Uruguay currently on home assignment
During our year on home assignment in the United States, we’ve served as International-Workers-In-Residence at Nyack (New York) College. We’ve loved connecting with family, friends, students, and churches that have supported us over the years.
During the Christmas season we made the “pilgrimage” to New York City from Nyack—accompanied by 25 international students—to see the tree in Rockefeller Center. Surrounded by the lights and sounds of Times Square, three of our Kenyan students stood mesmerized.
Behind us flashed a sign that read “Midtown Manhattan uses more energy than the entire country of Kenya.” Now that puts things in perspective!
Christmas also does this. The indescribable Gift—God wrapped in flesh, was foretold by the Old Testament prophet Isaiah: “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14).
Mary and Joseph were surprised by her pregnancy, and the shepherds were stunned when they heard the angel’s anthem. Yet God was not surprised. It was all part of His plan.
As we face the commencement of a new year, we know that we can trust Him for whatever surprises may come. May you be surprised by His love, joy, hope, and peace!
Pray
Use the weekly Alliance Prayer Requests to join the Alliance family in interceding on behalf of our global teams, who often serve in challenging places that require Holy Spirit–inspired wisdom to share God’s love with peoples who have never been introduced to the Word made flesh.