Pastor Ethan Mpozembizi
As we come to the end of one year and step into another, I want to pause with you and reflect.
For some, this past year has been unforgettable in the best way. You landed the job you prayed for. You crossed the graduation stage. You got clean—really clean. Some of you fell in love, some said “I do,” some welcomed new life into your families. Doors opened that had been closed for years. Your faith felt alive, electric. It was a year that felt like overflow.
As Psalm 126:3 says,
“The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.”
But for others, this year hit differently.
For some, this was the year of goodbye—the year you lost someone you deeply loved. The year your heart cracked open. The year the job ended without warning. The year depression didn’t just visit but moved in. The year of bad company, hard diagnoses, and lows you didn’t think you’d survive.
And yet, here you are.
Psalm 34:18 reminds us,
“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
If you are reading this, breath in right now—then hear me clearly:
You are still here. And that matters more than you know.
Lamentations 3:22–23 tells us:
“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His mercies never fail. They are new every morning.”
This is not a cliché. This is a promise.
You are still here for a reason. Your life still carries weight. Your presence still fills a space that only you can fill. You are deeply loved—even on the days you don’t feel lovable. Your story is not finished.
Jeremiah 29:11 reminds us that even when life feels like captivity, God is still writing:
“For I know the plans I have for you… plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.”
Hindsight shows us where we’ve been. But faith gives us foresight—the courage to believe that God is still at work.
So if you’ve made it into this new year, it means there is still purpose ahead of you. There is still grace waiting for you. There is still healing available for you.
I pray this year will be a year of renewal.
A year of deeper prayer.
A year of restored relationships.
A year of freedom from what’s been holding you back.
A year of walking closely with Christ.
Let this not be just another chapter—but the chapter God writes with His own hand.
May God bless you abundantly.
May His peace rest upon your home.
May you prosper in health, in faith, in relationships, in purpose, and in service.
We look forward to hearing your testimonies. Connect with us. Walk with us. Worship with us at Handsworth SDA Church.
God bless you as you step forward with hope, faith, and expectation.
