Brenda Selby – 5 Minutes of Fire
Brenda opened with a powerful message on the certainty of God’s promises, contrasting the literal and biblical definitions of hope. With over 3,000 promises in Scripture—like God’s unshakable presence, wisdom, and eternal life—she reminded us to turn to the Bible to discover the hope found in His Word.

Pastor Tom Golden – The Birth of Hope
Pastor Tom shared how Isaiah prophesied Jesus’ coming 700 years before His birth, bringing a message of hope to a waiting world. Unlike the Israelites who had to wait, we now live in the fulfillment of that hope—Jesus is here today!

He highlighted examples of mortals who brought hope into the world:

• George Washington, who used his wealth to help free slaves.
• Martin Luther King Jr., who donated his Nobel Peace Prize earnings to the civil rights movement.
• Mother Teresa, who encouraged people to forgive and have hope after a gas explosion took many lives.

Through these stories and Scripture, Pastor Tom encouraged us to embrace God’s promise of hope.

The Journey of Mary and Joseph
Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem illustrates the challenges we may face when following God’s plan. Forced to travel 90 miles for the census, Mary—exhausted and heavily pregnant—endured the journey faithfully. At the same time, angels appeared to shepherds, inviting them to witness the birth of Emmanuel. The shepherds left everything to follow the angel’s message, encountering Jesus one by one. Their story is a reminder that God’s promises are worth pursuing, no matter how difficult the path may seem.

Even when life feels like a storm—like Jessica Watson’s harrowing journey as the youngest person to sail around the world—God equips us with the resilience to keep going. The birth of Jesus, celebrated in Luke 2:13-14, is the ultimate fulfillment of hope. No matter our circumstances, the good news of His arrival cannot be stopped.

The Birth of Hope is Here—embrace it today!

Romans 15:13
13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Isaiah 7:14
14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.

Luke 2:13-14
13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”