Saturday, December 7th, 2024 morning, upon arrival in Manila and then in Davao, the flight attendant announced: “Welcome to Manila/Davao. We wish you a Merry Christmas filled with cheers, laughter, and love!” The atmosphere of Christmas celebrations is noted among the people and District Apostle Edy Isnugroho could feel the Christmas season.

The Christmas season, with its familiar greetings of joy and cheer, serves as a poignant reminder of the hope we hold as Christians—the joyful anticipation of Christ’s return. This was especially evident during the visit of District Apostle Edy Isnugroho to Davao and Tagum from 7th until 15th December 2024. Alongside Apostles Samuel Tansahtikno and Freddie Nuyad, he ministered to eight congregations: Camansa, Puting Bato, Maydawo, Banhawan, Blessed Home, Samal Island, Tudaya, and Maa. These visits marked his first time ministering to these congregations. The joy is great!

One of the most moving moments occurred on December 14th, during a visit to Tudaya, a congregation located near the majestic Mount Apo in Davao del Sur. There, the District Apostle encountered a 102-year-old sister, who was supported on either side by a minister and a sister, walking slowly up the path uphill towards the church. He was amazed at the high-age sister’s enthusiasm for attending the service. During the divine service the participants, ranging from children, adults, and to the high-age sisters, listened attentively to the preaching of the word.

On Sunday, December 15th he visited Maa congregation. The District Apostle conducted a service with a Bible Text out of Habakkuk 2:3: “For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.” People tend to be afraid and have a lot of questions about the future. But as New Apostolic Christians, we have so many reasons to look forward to the future. This joyful anticipation for what is to come is an integral part of our spiritual Advent.

Habakkuk complains to the Lord. Evil reigns very powerfully in the land. But God does nothing to stop it. God even gives him a surprising answer: the situation is going to get worse, with the arrival of a new enemy even more cruel than the previous one. The prophet cannot understand. Because the Lord is almighty and faithful. And He promised to watch over His people. But why does He not do anything? God tells him that He will intervene at the time He decides. But only the faithful will be saved. In the meantime, the prophet must be patient. This promise is enough for him. He trusts God and wants to rejoice, even if nothing changes for the time being.

Subsequently, the Lord delivered His people from the yoke of their enemies. However, the true deliverance promised in the scriptures came in the person of Jesus Christ. His life, death, and resurrection offer salvation to all who believe. But the message of Advent is not merely a celebration of His first coming; the Holy Spirit answers all these questions with this prophecy: Jesus Christ will
return soon to save us. He will take those who have remained faithful to Him to the Kingdom of God.

As New Apostolic Christians, we, like the prophet Habakkuk, often find ourselves asking why God allows suffering and evil to persist. We pray for relief, and while some prayers are answered, new challenges always seem to arise. In these moments, it’s easy to grow weary or lose heart. Yet the promise of Christ’s return is what sustains us.

In his divine service at Maa, the District Apostle encouraged the congregation to focus not on the unanswered questions or the present struggles, but on the hope of Christ’s return. He reminded them, as we are reminded today, that while God’s timing may not align with our desires or expectations, His promises are always true. Christ will return—unexpectedly, but surely—and those who remain faithful to Him will be saved.

The important thing for us is to remain faithful to Christ in all circumstances of life:

• like the prophet, let us never stop talking with God. We do not hesitate to confide
  in Him our sorrows, questions, doubts, and even our anger;
• we want to listen carefully to what He has to say. We don’t need to surprise to
  today’s tribulations; the Lord has announced this prior to His return;
• we want to trust Him—He will return as He promised but unexpectedly.

As we reflect on these powerful messages this Advent season, let us hold fast to the joyful anticipation of Christ’s return. Let us prepare our hearts, remain in fellowship, and shine His light in the world. Because, as we are assured: Jesus is returning soon!