A Gift of Hope

December 26, 2024

THF Weekly Briefing – 12/26/2024

Do you ever feel hopeless?

As we reach the end of 2024, there is without question much to be concerned about. Tragedy and oppression are all around. But there’s hope to be found too, if you look in the right places. One of the great things about being involved in foundation work is seeing how God calls his people to partner with him in bringing forth the Kingdom. This is what our global partners are engaged in. Yes, there are problems everywhere. But I find it immensely encouraging to learn about the impact our partnerships have in some of the world’s toughest places and most adverse circumstances. Part of the gospel message is that God works through tragedy to bring glory to himself even in the midst of despair. And part of what we commemorate at Christmas is the reality that there’s another restoration we’re still awaiting—when God will finally make all things new, wipe away every tear, bring an end to war and injustice once and for all, and make his eternal dwelling among his people.

As we get ready to usher in 2025, I hope we can view our circumstances not through the lens of anxiety and uncertainty but rather with confident anticipation as we celebrate what God has already done and look forward to the future fulfillment of our ultimate hope.

Here’s what’s happening.

Hope for Cuba

A week ago, Teo Babun, founder and president of THF partner organization ECHO Cuba, wrote an op-ed for The Miami Herald addressing Cuba’s “escalating political, social, economic, and human-rights crises.” The brutal combination of extreme poverty and state-sponsored religious persecution has resulted in hundreds of thousands of Cubans fleeing the country over the past decade, and Cuba is now “teetering on the brink of collapse.” Yet Teo sees hope for the future in Cuba. He writes, “The Cuban people’s deep spiritual commitment is a testament to their resilience. While the government seeks to control faith, it cannot suppress the determination of individuals who place their belief in God above the state.” Tyndale House Foundation has been investing in evangelistic outreach and pastor training in Cuba for many years through the work of organizations like ECHO Cuba, Haven Ministries, Neopolis, and others. Could 2025 be a year of breakthrough for Cuba? Politically, it may seem unlikely. But God is on the move in Cuba. Please pray for relief and protection for the Cuban church and that God will be glorified as his people there proclaim the gospel and show love to their neighbors in Jesus’ name.

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Hope for Ukraine

Hope is probably not be the first word that comes to mind when you think about Ukraine. Full-scale war has been raging there for nearly three years. Every day brings more headlines about new travesties. Just this morning I saw a news story about Russian missiles once again targeting Ukrainian energy infrastructure and civilian buildings. THF board member Evan Hunter recently returned from his eighth trip to Ukraine since the war started in February 2022. He writes, “I continue to marvel at the kingdom vision embodied by our partners. They push on, committed to a larger mission, and with a hope that can only exist because of a deep faith in the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ.” Tyndale House Foundation continues to invest heavily in Christian publishing, theological education, and refugee relief in Ukraine. If there’s a common theme observable in all the projects we’re involved in there, it’s the idea of preparing for a postwar reality. That would be impossible without hope in a truly restorative and transformative gospel. The situation in Ukraine continues to be dire, but our friends and partners there are confidently working toward a better future. Please continue to pray for peace and justice in Ukraine, for protection and endurance for our partners, and for more and more Ukrainians to trust Christ for ultimate hope in the midst of circumstances that so often seem hopeless.

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Hope for Rwanda

Last week I received word from Faustin Uzabakilho, president of THF partner organization Exodus Vision, that thousands of Rwandan churches are being shut down on charges of insufficient parking, soundproofing, lightning protection, and accessibility. According to Faustin, over 9,000 churches have closed their doors in recent weeks. Hundreds will never reopen, and some have been targeted for destruction. Faustin wrote, “I believe that the Lord is in control, and nothing surprises him. However, my heart is burdened for these churches and the Rwandan community at large.” According to a Christianity Today article about the situation, the government’s official line is that it is protecting Rwandans from church corruption and fraud. These are legitimate concerns, at least in part. THF partner Mesa Global is one of many organizations seeking to address the “training gap” that exists when church growth outpaces leader training, including in places like Rwanda. I’m personally skeptical that shutting down thousands of churches will make any positive impact in East Africa. I’m much more optimistic about the efforts of training organizations like ScholarLeaders International and church planting and training networks like Entrust. And I’m grateful for the efforts of Exodus Vision, working to bring tangible hope to people in Rwanda. Let’s pray that the genuine hope of the gospel outweighs whatever threats the Rwandan government sees in the deficiencies of church leadership.

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Hope for Lebanon

If there’s one thing that’s certain about the situation in the Middle East, it’s that nothing is certain. Since the terrorist attacks against Israel on October 7, 2023, the Jewish nation has been at war with Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon. The fall of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad earlier this month was good news in some ways, but the rise to power of radical Islamist rebel group HTS has brought more questions than answers so far, particularly about the future of the Syrian church. THF’s many partners in the region are watching carefully and trusting in the Lord to lead and guide through the present turmoil. Nabil Costa, president of THF partner organization Thimar in Beirut, wrote last week, “Our job is not to predict the future, nor to be blown back and forth by the winds of opinion or be paralyzed by fear. Instead, we must answer the Lord’s call.” Just like in Ukraine, our partners in the Middle East are planning and working for the future. Yes, they are responding to urgent needs—dealing with the growing refugee crisis in Lebanon and Syria and the humanitarian emergency in Gaza. But they are also looking ahead, past the immediate crises and toward the rebuilding phase in a future defined not by fear but by hope. Nabil wrote, “As kingdoms fall around us, we believe that the Lord is establishing a kingdom that is not dependent on human power.” Amen! Please pray for our partners in Lebanon who remain committed to bringing the stability of the gospel to a shaky region.

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That’s it for this week’s briefing. Please send any questions, comments, and stories of hope in a troubled world to [email protected]. I send out this email resource most weeks primarily for a Tyndale audience, but you should feel free to share it with others who may be interested, inside or outside of Tyndale. Thanks for continuing to pray for and support our partners around the world.

Jeremy Taylor

President | Tyndale House Foundation

The THF Weekly Briefing provides information about significant events happening in the wide universe of Tyndale House Foundation partner organizations as well as an occasional peek behind the scenes of THF’s operations. It is available to anyone at Tyndale who’s interested in learning more about the Foundation side of the organization. Was this email forwarded to you? Contact [email protected] to be added to (or removed from) the distribution list.