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Thomas Jefferson is considered one of American’s greatest leaders. Many thought of him as a Christian, but Jefferson rejected large portions of the bible. Thomas Jefferson did not believe that any of the miracles in the Scriptures had actually occurred. He was so committed to his philosophy that he even edited his own special version of the Bible in which all references to the supernatural were deleted. In editing the Bible, he confined himself totally to the moral teachings of Jesus. The closing words of the Jefferson’s Bible are these, “There they laid Jesus and rolled a great stone at the door of the sepulchre, and departed.” That is the end of the story as far as Thomas Jefferson was concerned.
It is amazing that people can follow the life of Christ all the way to the cross, revel in His sacrifice for us, then end the story there, but that is not the end of the story. The story goes beyond the cross to a tomb which was vacated three days later, leading to the greatest revolution in the history of humankind. To neglect the conclusion of the story is to miss the whole point of the story.
The doctrine of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ is central to the Christian faith.
The resurrection takes Christianity out of the realm of philosophy and turns it into a fact of history. To deny the resurrection is to remove the keystone in the arch of the Christian faith. The crucifixion of Jesus would have been in vain without the resurrection, for the resurrection validated Christ’s work on the cross. Of all the great religions in the world, only Christianity is based on the resurrection of its leader. Therefore, if the resurrection is not a fact, Christianity is a waste of time. If Christ is not raised, Paul told the believers at Corinth, our preaching is in vain, our faith is without basis.
Easter is true! One of the most amazing, yet most neglected facts of Easter is the dynamic truth that Jesus Himself predicted what would happen long before it actually took place (St. Matthew 16:21). If I were to predict my own death and resurrection,
I would be locked up. Only a foolish person goes around predicting their own resurrection, unless that person is also God. Jesus Christ was God incarnate and could do exactly as He predicted. He promised His disciples that He would come alive from the grave and His predictions are evidence in support of the resurrection. Not all the evidence of Christ resurrection is found in the Scriptures and in the past. We have present day evidences of the resurrection, such as the Christian faith.
The resurrection of Christ is the very citadel of the Christian faith. The doctrine of the resurrection turned the world upside down and lifted Christianity above Judaism and the pagan religions of the world. If Jesus did not rise, there would be no Christian faith
(1 Cor. 15: 14-19).
A second evidence for the resurrection is the Church of Jesus Christ. The Church is founded on Jesus Christ. Scripture reminds us that the Church is built upon Jesus Christ as its foundation. If the crucifixion ended the life of Christ, the Church could not come into being. The main reason is that the Church flourishes today, and it can celebrate Easter, is because Jesus came out of the tomb and declared that He has conquered death, and that He is the author of life.
A third evidence for the resurrection is the Christian day of worship, Sunday. The very fact that we attend church on Sunday is evidence of the resurrection. The original day of worship was Saturday, but Christians began meeting on Sundays because it was acknowledged that Jesus came back from the grave on Sunday. The Jewish Christians began meeting on Sunday to celebrate God’s new relationship with His people. Worshipping on Sunday is a testimony that Jesus rose victorious on a Sunday morning.
The last evidence of the resurrection is the Christian ordinances. Every time we partake of communion, we give evidence to the resurrection. The ordinance of baptism offers a wonderful picture of the resurrection.
This Easter let us celebrate the fact that Christ is risen and has ascended to Heaven. Remember, His is still alive and He has left us with a mission. We are United on Mission. So let us witness with power, let us walk by faith, and let us wait in Hope.
On behalf of Pauline and I and the Mid-Atlantic Region, we wish you an Easter that is
filled with the Joy and Peace that the death, burial and resurrection of Christ brings.
Bishop Woodroe Thompson
Mid-Atlantic Regional Bishop
Here we are again, at the end of an old Year 2025, and standing on the threshold of a New Year 2026. Every Year, events transpire that forever changes the world, and 2025 has impacted the world and our lives in ways that is quite difficult to explain. But amidst the upheavals and difficulties, our God have been the stabilizing factor upon our lives and ministry. As always, this is a great time to pause and to reflect over the years. I have learnt that yearly reflections provide an opportunity to pause, to reflect, and to look at different ways in which we can grow. Every New Year is a time ripe with anticipation and expectation. It can be a spiritually purifying time of reflection that offers hope for change, and an invitation for us to make new choices for the future. It helps us to see the blessings and the challenges we have experienced, and to be filled with gratitude to our great God and King. Looking back also fills us with thanksgiving for the things we sometimes take for granted.
As you reflect on the past year, you will be absolutely amazed at all that God has accomplished in your life and the ministry to which you have been called. In this rare moment of reflection and honest self-assessment, we can admit our failures and our victories. We can pledge to learn from them and move forward towards a more rewarding future. Making plans for the New Year can be a time filled with great enthusiasm and hope when we turn to the One who makes it possible, and who truly makes all things new, Jesus Christ our Lord. The passing of one year to the next is universally marked by a period of reflection concerning the year passed and a pledge to begin anew, and to make changes for the year ahead. This is because we all long to be made new, and intuitive. We all know that means there needs to be changed within before we can experience change around us. The Apostle Paul reminds us in Philippians 3:13, that we need to be determined and motivated to “Forget the things which lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead.” The past is not relevant; what matters is making the maximum effort in the present so as to sustain the momentum in the future. We need to tretch ourselves and press towards the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
We cannot live on past victories, nor should we allow ourselves to be crippled by past failures. This is a New Day, a New Year, let us lay aside all hindrances and be willing to say, “That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead” (Phil 3:10-11). May this New Year 2026 fuel your Spiritual Ambition and bring Newness that is available in Christ Jesus. One of the most rewarding ways to begin the New Year of 2026 is with Prayer and Fasting. I would like to invite you and your congregation to join with the Global Church family with the theme: “On Mission: Praying Together.” This Global Prayer Initiative will begin January 5-25, 2026. The Mid-Atlantic Region will be “Praying Together,” on January 24, 2026, at 7pm via Zoom. Additional information forth coming. Please continue to pray for those who are sick and have lost loved ones.
Some of you would remember Bishop Mario Gandia and his wife Naomi Gandia who served the COGOP and this Region for over 30yrs. Bishop Gandia went to be with the Lord on December 24, 2025. Please remember Sister Gandia and family in your prayers. Information about his memorial and burial services can be found on our website, macogop.org.
On behalf of my wife and I, we would like to wish you a very Blessed and Favorable New Year!
“The Lord bless you, and Keep you; The Lord makes His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; The Lord lift up His countenance on you, and give you peace.”
Number 6:24-25
