Eternal hope

Trizenia September, from South Africa, grew up in a Christian family and came to know Jesus personally at the age of 14. Initially, she studied and worked in financial management before joining OM in 2004, starting with OM Ships, followed by training and equipping Jesus followers at the South Africa Missions Discipleship Training. She has since completed a Master's Degree in Theology (Missiology) and now serves on the OM Africa Area Leadership Team as the Mobilisation Director. 

I have fond memories of my childhood growing up in South Africa. In our neighbourhood, we knew everybody on our street, including all the kids, their siblings and parents. In some cases, we also knew the extended families who came to visit. We all spoke the same language, had similar upbringings and shared the same moral values. Most of us had a shared faith in Jesus, with the exceptions here and there of those growing up in Hindu or Muslim homes. Nonetheless, we all belonged to one big community family.

I still reside in the same kind of community in which I grew up. However, over the last two decades or so, our community has undergone some changes. We no longer see that many kids playing in the street. Furthermore, there are demographic changes brought about by the influx of people from other parts of the world moving here; mostly owning the smaller community shops or small businesses.

Earlier this year, our community was shaken and in a state of hopelessness when the nine-year-old daughter of a Pakistani shop owner was kidnapped from the school across the road from their store. What had always felt like a safe place for so many kids in our area now became marked by fear and disbelief. Up to this point, the relationship between the South Africans and the Pakistanis in the community had been mainly transactional, but this tragedy united us. As a community, we rallied together, sharing the message on social media platforms, taking over the school patrol and supporting in any way we could. Being a predominantly Christian community and knowing that our Pakistani brothers and sisters are Muslim, we asked if we could conduct prayer meetings and share words of encouragement from the Bible at the school for the teachers, children and the surrounding community. In this unimaginable situation, we proclaimed that our hope was in the Lord Jesus. Our hope was not based on what the situation and the statistics told us, but rather on the firm belief that as we come to the Lord in prayer, we know He hears us, and we ask Him to intervene for His name's sake. After nine days of prayer and action, the child was found, and the suspects were apprehended. A Thanksgiving service with the entire community followed, and we rediscovered the bonds of community and the enduring truth that in Jesus, we have hope and find strength. It took me back to my childhood, when we believed that 'your child is my child.'

In Matthew 12:21, we read: “And his name will be the hope of all the world” (NLT). His name is Jesus, and indeed, He is the hope of the world. In the story mentioned above, the world has come to my little community through our Pakistani friends, and we were able to share the hope we have in Jesus with them. We live on a beautiful continent, which is also plagued by too many nations and communities experiencing hopelessness and despair. Our hearts broke in a recent prayer meeting for the continent, where we learnt about the areas of war, persecution and displacement. We cried out to God in prayer and proclaimed, 'Jesus, You are our living hope.’ Even when we cannot see it, we believe it with all our hearts. Hebrews 6:19 reads: “This hope is an anchor for the soul, firm and secure” (NIV). Jesus is holding us steadfast through life's highs and lows.

As we enter this Christmas season, we are reminded of Christ’s birth — His coming to earth as the hope of the world. This hope is expressed not only in Jesus' coming as a baby but also in His laying down His life for the world. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” — John 3:16 (NIV). Our hope in Jesus is eternal. May this season renew our conviction to share the good news of Jesus, our living and eternal hope for all people and nations.