2016 Easter Message from the CCF's Executive Director Gareth Wallace:
The Government always has a huge range of competing priorities and pressures at any time but this Easter there are many complex issues converging on its time.
There are many issues that encourage Christians to pray for wisdom for our Government as they wrestle with how best to guide our Nation at this turbulent time.
One of America’s greatest Presidents Abraham Lincoln said;
“I have been driven many times upon my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go. My own wisdom and that of all about me seemed insufficient for that day.”
John Wesley the founder of the Methodist Church said “God does nothing but in answer to prayer.”
I am sure that all CCF members and supporters will want to take a moment this Easter time to pray for wisdom and courage for our elected representatives.
About 2000 years ago a young man was brutally executed. With his death, no doubt his enemies were convinced that his cause was finished and he would soon be forgotten. At first his followers were utterly depressed and disillusioned, but then something extraordinary happened.
Those who had believed in him were convinced that they had met Jesus, risen from the dead. They were willing to face amazing hardships, even death to spread the message that Jesus is alive, risen.
The Easter message ends not with a funeral but with the Christian festival of Easter.
The Apostle Paul said in the book of Romans “by being raised from the dead he was proved to be the mighty Son of God.” The heart of the Christian message is that death can be overcome and that love not violence wins.
Jesus met hatred with the offer of forgiveness and bitterness with love. Sadly there are places today where people are persecuted for their beliefs. Christians believe that God has granted us the free will to make our own choices. We may not always agree with the choices that others make, but that does not give anyone the right to impose their views on others
When Jesus died it seemed that the Church faced extinction, yet this Easter countless thousands of people will gather to worship Jesus Christ.
Over 2000 years later people are still being challenged by Jesus life and example and lives are being transformed across our land with the impact of the Christian message and the outreach of Christian charities.
We are all called to build community together. Let us take the Easter message of new life and forgiveness out into our streets and in our great Nation as we face the challenges of the future together.
What a transformation we could see in the lives of each other, of our communities, our cities and our nations if this Easter we could emulate Christ’s example of sacrifice and love. Jesus said in the Gospel of John; “by this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
May I extend my warmest greetings to you as I wish each of you a very Happy Easter.
Gareth Wallace
Executive Director