I was a late addition to the gathering, and profoundly grateful for the invitation. The occasion: a clay pigeon shoot. The setting: a magnificent stately home. The host: a member of one of England’s esteemed historic families. But the true gift was the company – a truly eclectic and engaging group of men.
The bonds of friendship amongst them were palpable, forged in the crucible of shared experiences and life’s trials. As a newcomer, I was welcomed with open arms, fostering an environment ripe for new connections. Unsurprisingly, the conversations flowed richly, honestly, deeply informed by a diverse tapestry of perspectives.
As individuals shared their life journeys and current endeavors, the raw honesty of their narratives occasionally led us into darker territories, moments tinged with what felt like hopelessness.
However, this wasn’t a hopelessness born of apathy or superficiality. Instead, it arose from the profound complexities of life intersecting with faith – a space where the simplistic allure of rigid rules falls short, and where true wisdom and unwavering courage are essential responses to genuine need.
In those moments of shared vulnerability, I found myself in quiet gratitude, thanking God for the men around me, especially those who had made significant personal sacrifices to serve others, often at great personal risk. It was a powerful reminder of the good in the world, often unseen.
Retiring late that first night, the stimulating conversations continued to resonate as I lay awake. These reflections brought me to consider the pivotal role hope plays in my own life, and the extent to which my worldview, my inner compass, and my actions are shaped by this incredible gift of hope.
I genuinely cannot fathom navigating life without hope.
This precious gift of hope, I believe, originates from God, the source of every truly good gift. It’s a divine endowment, a cornerstone of our existence.
Biblical hope, as revealed in Scripture, is deeply anchored in the very character of our God. He is the one who, with absolute authority and power over His universe, is actively working out His benevolent plans and purposes.
This understanding of hope is inherently directional; it’s moving towards a culmination in time, and crucially, it’s guaranteed by its very origin. Origin dictates destiny, particularly when we consider the arrival of Jesus of Nazareth – God incarnate – and the transformative work He accomplished through His life, death, resurrection, and ascension.
The truly transformative news is that His ongoing work, now at the right hand of the Father, is actively bringing this divine plan to fruition. Even more astounding is the revelation that He chooses to involve us, humanity, in this grand endeavor.
This revelation fueled the missional zeal of the disciples, the early church, and continues to drive all genuine believers throughout history. A new King has arrived, and His reign is eternal.
This truth validates our existence, our humanity, and the meaningfulness of our work. Our collaboration with this King genuinely matters on every conceivable level.
This profound reality – that God, in the person of Jesus, is ultimately in control – has been captured in countless artistic expressions, perhaps most powerfully in the icon of Christ Pantokrator. He embodies divine authority, yet also boundless love and forgiveness. He is perpetually with us, for us, and through His Spirit, He dwells within us, eternally.
Our world, and the specific mission field each of us is called to, is currently facing immense and multifaceted upheavals. Fear and uncertainty cast long shadows across every level of society. Few, if any, of us will remain untouched by these impacts in our personal lives, within our families, and in our communities. And yet, there He remains: King of the universe, hand raised in blessing, embodying the fulfillment of hope throughout the ages. This image serves as a potent reminder of the enduring nature of God’s gift of hope.
No earthly force, no circumstance, and no individual can alter or diminish His sovereignty, or undo what He has definitively accomplished. His achievement is nothing less than a new creation, a fresh start imbued with divine potential.
Our extraordinary privilege lies in proclaiming and embodying this good news, particularly in the darkest corners of our world, such as prisons, where hope can often be desperately scarce. To share this gift of hope is a profound calling.
In this year, and moving forward, my intention and prayer is to be an ambassador of this transformative hope, wherever I am able, starting with this very introduction. May this encouragement resonate and become a guiding principle for us all.
“I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in Him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit. I am fully convinced, my dear brothers and sisters, that you are full of goodness. You know these things so well you can teach each other all about them. Even so, I have been bold enough to write about some of these points, knowing that all you need is this reminder.” Romans 15:13-15, NLT
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Letter from the CEO
