Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ and Members of the Gafcon Family,
Greetings in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord and only Savior!
First of all, I want to thank all of you who participated in our global Gafcon Giving Day by prayer or by your financial gifts. Your generosity and faithfulness are greatly appreciated. Gafcon’s gospel witness has a vital role in today’s world. You are making that possible through your sacrificial gifts. Thank you!
Many of you have heard about or seen the evangelistic crusades with Billy Graham either in person or on television. One of his regular colleagues was George Beverly Shea, a Canadian born (in 1881!) bass-baritone singer who traveled with Billy Graham for decades. Because of the global TV audiences of the crusades, it was estimated that George Beverly Shea was heard singing gospel music by more people than anyone in history. One of his songs seems particularly relevant for us these days:
In times like these you need a Savior
In times like these you need an anchor
Be very sure, be very sure
Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!
This Rock is Jesus, Yes He’s the One
This Rock is Jesus, the only One
Be very sure, be very sure
Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!
(In Times like these, George Beverly Shea, written by Ruth Caye Jones, 1944.)
Every day we are challenged with troubling news from around the world. Of late, there is a further complication from the global pandemic. There is a mutation to COVID-19 called “Variation D.” In addition, some regions are having a much higher mortality rate than others. Archbishop Laurent Mbanda has shared that a rise in cases has led to a new lockdown in Rwanda. Western Kenya and parts of Uganda are also being hit very hard. Archbishop Stephen Kaziimba reports that Uganda is in the midst of a 42-day total lockdown. Archbishop Kanishka Raffel shared that Sydney has gone into a new lockdown and the borders are closed. India and Bangladesh are still suffering terribly as well. Gafcon Regional Secretary for the Americas, Bishop Bill Atwood, has reported to me that in his conversations and video conferences with leaders in South America, they are currently experiencing a devastating impact from COVID worse than any other region. While healthcare officials are divided on why the problem is so exaggerated in South America, there should be no division about what we need to do: we need to pray and invest in a relationship with Jesus Christ to be our Lord, Savior, and anchor, just as George Beverly Shea sang.
One of the great strengths of Gafcon is the fact that we are not alone, and our brothers and sisters in Christ all over the world can pray for us as they know about our circumstances. Our prayer network continues to develop and intercede for the nations. You might consider volunteering to become a designated intercessor. Prayer is the fuel that powers what we do.
Jesus is in fact our hope and our anchor. Pray for those in our global Gafcon family, especially those in challenging circumstances to receive the grace and consolation of the Holy Spirit. Pray too, for the end of the COVID pandemic. Let us not forget to pray for those encountering horrific violence in Myanmar, Nigeria, and Congo. And let us pray that there would be a great harvest of souls coming to faith in Jesus Christ.
Thank you for your faithfulness, for your prayers, and for your much needed gifts.
We have this hope, a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters the inner shrine behind the curtain, where Jesus, a forerunner on our behalf, has entered, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek. Hebrews 6:19-20
In Christ Jesus,
The Most Rev. Dr. Foley Beach
Chairman
Gafcon Primates Council
