Reach Magazine - December 2021

I N S P I R E YO U R FA I T H | I M PA C T T H E W O R L D

The Birth of Grace

When They Saw The Star

Where does grace begin?

Remembering the gift of a King

CBNEUROPE.COM

Never Lose Your Wonder Never lose your sense of wonder

ISSUE 57

CONTENT

03. Welcome to Issue 57 From The Director

04. The Birth of Grace Teaching 06. Europe Updates CBN Ministry Highlights

09. The Value of One CBN Israel

10. When They Saw The Star Featured 13. Pat Answers Your Questions Bring it On

14. Discover CBN’s Impact Global Impact 16.

Ministry Update CBN Australasia

20. Never Lose Your Wonder Featured 22. Children & Families Superbook

24. Pray with us!

Prayer Needs

PO Box 700 Hereford, HR1 9EW, UK 0300 561 0700 (UK) 01513 3738 (ROI) 02 7908 0700 (AUS) 04 488 0700 (NZ) +44 207 101 7045 (International) WhatsApp

07833 993 924 CBNEUROPE.COM CBNAUSTRALASIA.ORG

26. God Answers Prayer Testimonies

28. CBN Shop & Christmas Radio CBN Christmas

@CBNEUROPE

29. Put Your Hope Into Action Your Ways To Give

R E A C H is a free magazine produced and distributed by CBN Europe to inspire, inform and strengthen your relationship with God. We partner with individuals, churches and organisations in order to share the message of hope in Jesus Christ, provide humanitarian relief and reduce poverty. It is our vision to share the Gospel in a relevant way to all generations and see people walk in their true potential with God. Would you like to support our ministry? Contact us on the numbers provided or visit cbneurope.com/donate.

Foreword

FROM THE DIRECTOR | 3

Dear friends,

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elcome to our December issue of REACH magazine! I hope this edition will be a real blessing to you as you read what your support is enabling us to achieve together, bringing hope and relief to so many people at their point of need.

What a year it has been! I don’t have to remind you about the challenges of a global pandemic, let alone the impact this has on mental health, the economy overall, finance, jobs, education and so many more aspects of our daily lives.

You know very well the challenges that you have had to face in 2021 and how you are moving into yet another new year.

God knows, too! He knew it all before the year started, as He is outside time and space. He is already there and walked right beside you – day by day.

He has been the constant factor all along, as Psalm 62:1-2 says: “I wait quietly before God, for my victory comes from Him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will never be shaken.”

Reflecting on the past year, I want to give glory to God for His sustenance, for His wisdom, for His protection and for His relentless love that burns with a passion for a lost world. Regardless of the mess this world finds itself in, His Kingdom reigns! His mission has not changed; to seek what is lost, to bring a message of love, mercy and forgiveness to anyone who wants to hear it.

I pray that as you step into a new year, you will experience His presence like never before. The government is on His shoulders. He is our Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father and Prince of Peace.

In Jesus, Mark Dijkens Regional Director

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.

And he will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

(Isaiah 9:6)

4 | TEACHING

TEACHING | 5

The Birth of Grace

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here does grace begin? It comes from Jesus. John’s Gospel says: The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. … And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace.

For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ (John 1:14, 1617).

and a calling.”

This is God’s manifold grace: He has worked out good things for us to walk into. It is not because He needs us, but because we need His grace. If we come to Christianity from a legalistic standpoint, we will never understand the truth of God’s grace. We can’t think enough good thoughts or do enough good deeds to earn His favor.

My grace is sufficient for you.

The Apostle Peter tells us that grace is the beginning of the Christian walk: As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious (1 Peter 2:2-3). His personal experience of the Lord’s graciousness led him to write this.

Consider how Peter felt after Jesus’ death and resurrection. He had denied the Lord three times and probably felt unfit to be an apostle. But what does Jesus do? He comes to Peter and asks three times if he loves Him—negating every one of Peter’s denials.

This is grace in action, and this is the moment that creates the Apostle Peter.

Instead of berating him, Jesus challenges him to move forward, to go higher, and to do what he thought he could not do anymore. When Peter thinks he is disqualified, Jesus says, “My grace can overcome all of this. I have important work for you to do. You have a destiny

This is why Paul underlines it in every letter, and why he recalls Jesus’ words to him in 2 Corinthians 12:9: “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”

Understanding grace makes the difference between losing heart and bearing fruit in ministry. God calls each of us to stand in His presence, and He also calls us to preach the Gospel to the ends of the earth. To do this, we must put aside all human striving and hold fast to His high calling, which is to turn many from darkness to light—to the living God. For it is His grace that makes this possible. God bless you.

This teaching was given during a CBN staff chapel.

Scripture is taken from the NKJV.

By Gordon Robertson Chief Executive Officer

6 | CBN MINISTRY HIGHLIGHTS

Ministry Update An update on CBN’s ministry in the UK, Europe and beyond!

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hanks to your help, prayers and support to CBN we are able to continue to share hope to people in need, here in the United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, Europe and Australasia! We thank God for your generous support and for putting your faith into action. God is blessing our ministry projects and can multiply every gift and answer every prayer to see increased fruit of our efforts! Below are the latest ministry updates to demonstrate to you the impact of your support to CBN. CBN Europe is one of CBN’s international ministry centres with its headquarters are based in Hereford, England. With offices in Germany, Croatia, The Netherlands and Moldova, an active network of broadcasters and partner ministries, CBN Europe is uniquely positioned to share the Good News of Jesus through the four pillars of CBN’s ministry. Our foundation is Jesus Christ and the transformational message of the Gospel, while all that we do is possible thanks to our faithful and generous CBN partners and donors. THANK YOU! Superbook in Poland One of the countries where we work is the Republic of Poland. Poland has a population of nearly 38.5 million people and is the fifth-most populous member

CBN MINISTRY HIGHLIGHTS | 7 state of the European Union. Warsaw is the nation’s capital and largest metropolis.

The history of Poland started in the 10th century, when the first documented ruler Mieszko I converted to Christianity in the year AD 966. Over the centuries the Kingdom of Poland grew in influence as it joined a unity with Lithuania which lasted more than 400 years. In the 16th century – Poland’s ‘golden age’ – Poland and Lithuania prospered together on the territory of almost 1 million square kilometres of central and eastern Europe. The capital was moved from Krakow to Warsaw. In the 18th century, Poland was in crisis and gradually fell under foreign influence. The country disappeared from the map of Europe until 1918 where at the end of the first world war, the Second Polish Republic was established. In 1939 Poland was invaded by Nazi Germany at the start of World War II. Six million Polish citizens lost their lives including three million Polish Jews; the country lay in ruins. After the war ended, Poland fell under Soviet control but broke away in 1989 when the Third Polish Republic went from communism to democracy.

It is against this backdrop that I share this month’s update about the work and ministry in Poland. Some years ago, one of our members of staff, Ania, travelled to her home country to meet with the national TV station to discuss CBN programming including Superbook. We prayed much for this meeting and for open doors to be able to broadcast on national TV. The Lord answered our prayers, and CBN’s animated Bible series Superbook has aired continuously to reach children and families in Poland with the powerful truth of God’s Word!

We work with a ministry organisation in the south of Poland to dub the series into the Polish language and distribute Superbook DVD’s in the Polish language across the country. We work with churches and ministries in Poland to reach children and families with the Good News of Jesus.

In August, Ania travelled back to Poland to be involved with children’s ministry. Ania sent in the following report: From 7th to 14th August, I attended a Christian summer camp in Ostrow Pieckowski (the northern part of Poland) where 80 children attended.

Each afternoon I led Superbook activities for about 30-50 children. The activities included watching Superbook episodes from Seasons 1, 2 and 3, singing and dancing the Salvation Poem, Bible quizzes based on Superbook episodes and Superbook crafts and activities. I was surprised how well the children knew the episodes and how many details they remembered.

During the last meeting, the children watched the Superbook Gospel Presentation video and many children invited Jesus into their hearts.

We organised a prize competition where children could win Gizmo soft toys, Superbook DVDs and Superbook colouring books. Every child received a colouring page with Gizmo and crafts to make a paper Gizmo at home. I encouraged them to read the Bible every day to learn more about Bible characters and Bible stories.

8 | CBN MINISTRY HIGHLIGHTS I also had an opportunity to do a presentation about the Superbook ministry and CBN in front of 350 people. I shared with them the story how Superbook came to Poland and started to be broadcasted on national TV and became one of the favourite cartoons in Poland, with millions of viewers. I also shared the further plans, and asked people to continue to pray for a great harvest in Poland. I introduced the Superbook Academy resources for churches and our recent project Book of Hope which explains the Gospel message for children in 7 fun and engaging chapters. Many people came to talk to me after asking for more details about CBN’s Superbook ministry and how they can be part of this. We came away so blessed – God continues to open doors for children’s ministry in Poland!

Superbook ministry is not only happening in Poland. Thanks to the faithful support of CBN partners we have the privilege of reaching children and families in 20 European languages, working with our staff, volunteers, churches and partner ministries to see lives changed. If you are already a CBN partner, THANK YOU! Your support is impacting so many lives! If you would like to help us make a difference, visit www.cbneurope.com/superbook or give our Hope Team a call.

We would love to hear from you!

Mark Dijkens Regional Director

9

Weekly Devotional: The Value of One All the tax collectors and sinners were approaching to listen to Him. And the Pharisees and scribes were complaining, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them!” So He told them this parable: “What man among you, who has 100 sheep and loses one of them, does not leave the 99 in the open field and go after the lost one until he finds it? When he has found it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders, and coming home, he calls his friends and neighbors together, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, because I have found my lost sheep!’ I tell you, in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over 99 righteous people who don’t need repentance” (Luke 15:1-7 HCSB).

We often read this parable of Jesus identifying Him as the shepherd and ourselves as the one, lost sheep that the shepherd leaves the 99 to find. While such an interpretation makes us feel good and valued, it actually misses Jesus’ point. He told this parable to explain to the Pharisees who complained about His association eating with sinners (i.e., those who were ritually impure).

In it He expressed the value of even one lost sheep to the shepherd, with the goal of His listeners understanding the value of one to God—and, by extension, the value that each one, even the lost, should have to them. The purpose of the parable was not to make the “sinners” feel good, but rather to reframe the perspective of the critics and calling upon them to behave in a manner similar to how God behaves—valuing the one.

When we read this parable, we should find ourselves in the position of Jesus’ original listeners, those who needed to be reminded that God values the one.

And, in the same manner that the shepherd sought out the one, lost sheep, we too should seek those who are far away from God. Without reading too much into the parable, the shepherd sought the sheep, not the other way around. The shepherd rejoiced at finding the sheep, and he didn’t scorn it or chastise it.

Are we seeking out the lost with the sincere hope that they will return to God? Do we rejoice upon finding them? Do we value the one in the same way that God does? If not, then we need to hear the words of Jesus afresh and anew today.

PRAYER Father, You value the one. You seek the one. You call the one to return to You. May we act as You act manifesting Your mercy and forgiveness in our world.

Amen.

10 | FEATURED

CBN READ

WHEN THEY SAW THE STAR

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ithin the Christmas story, every detail has significance, one of which is the star.

The wise men (Magi) who first saw the star were educated scholars, philosophers and astronomers who served in the royal courts throughout the ancient e a s t e r n world. They had studied the stars and sought to find the one who was born King of the Jews. Although they did not know him, their response was one of discovery.

“But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah are by no means least among the rulers of Judah, for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people, Israel.” Matthew 2:6 NIV Many who saw the star were oblivious to the truth that the Saviour of the world was so near. As for the wise men, ‘When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.’ Matthew 2:10 NIV. The excitement and joy that welled up from within them hastened their every step.

Although they were tired from the long journey, the one they had been seeking was within their sight.

Oh come let us adore Him

The star which they followed was like no other. It shone distinctly and brightly and rested over Bethlehem, the place where the child lay. The fulfilment of yet another Biblical prophecy was about to become a reality before their eyes.

On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshipped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold,

FEATURED | 11

frankincense and myrrh. Matthew 2:11 NIV The joy and wonder that they experienced was evident as their hearts were so full of gratitude. They had finally encountered the Saviour of the world, and their immediate response was that they bowed down and worshipped him. The gifts they opened fit a king, unaware that they were a prophetic symbol that would later represent His life.

Gold– a symbol of kingship on earth.

Frankincense – a symbol of deity.

Myrrh– a symbol of death.

What they had seen and experienced would leave an impression on future generations.

This Christmas, may I encourage you never to lose the joy and wonder of the

birth of the newborn King. Let us not be like those who were oblivious and unaware that the Saviour of the world was near.

When you begin to open your presents, why not stop for a moment, and thank God for His unspeakable gift? God’s gift of love to a lost and broken world was an expression from His heart that demonstrates the full extent of how much He genuinely loves each of us.

May gratitude extend within every heart in your home. May Jesus be given His rightful place as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. And may the chorus of “Oh come let us adore him” be the anthem of worship sung throughout eternity.

Allen Carter Partner Relations Manager

TURN ON THE LIGHT Give to CBN and turn on the light of Christ this Christmas.

Turn on the light where it’s most needed this Christmas! The reality of our society returning to the norm after the pandemic is still a long way off. There are families struggling for food. There are communities who have not heard the Gospel. The need for hope has never been greater than now.

Make a donation and turn on the light today.

When you give through CBN Europe, you can have the confidence that you are making a difference and bringing the Gospel and hope to the darkest of situations.

How does your support turn on the light?

• • • •

Your donation shares God’s love and hope into countless dark and hopeless situations through the HOPE line.

Your donation provides practical relief to people in need through Operation Blessing projects.

Your donation helps us to bring the Bible stories to children in 20 different European languages through Superbook.

Your donation broadcasts and shares the Gospel and hope through TV broadcasts and digital media content.

www.cbneurope.com/turnonthelight

Text CBNLIGHT to 70085 to give £10 Texts will cost the donation amount plus one standard network rate message and you’ll be opting into hearing more from us. If you would like to donate but don’t wish to hear more from us, please text CBNLIGHTNOINFO instead.

BRING IT ON | 13

PAT ANSWERS YOUR QUESTIONS Join Pat Robertson, CBN founder, as he answers the tough questions in life with Biblical truths.

Q.

How do you walk into the blessing of the Lord in all matters of life?

A.

In Mark 4:19 (nkjv), the Lord was talking about how “the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches … choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.” We have to earn a living. You’ve got to do your craft. But in all of it, give God praise. Brother Lawrence called it practicing the presence of God. He was a scullery cook and did his job as a service to God. Every time he cleaned a pan, he was doing it for the Lord. So, whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might.

DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION FOR PAT? Log on to CBN.com/BringItOnline and follow the instructions.

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” (James 1:17 NIV)

14 | GLOBAL IMPACT

The Gift That Keeps Giving Mexico

CBN Reporter, Dan Reany, recalled, “When I first met Josue and Gadiel, I quickly realised they are both brothers and best friends. They’ve taken care of each other since they came to this children’s home in Mexico.” Gadiel said, “When we got here, all of a sudden I had toys, and friends to play with. God brought us here. My brother helps me with my homework and I help him with his maths.”

Josue added, “Everyone gets along really well. We like to play football, and hide and seek.”

Arizbeth Aguilar, Administrative Director at the children’s home, said, “We care for children that have suffered abuse, have been abandoned, or are orphans.

With 40 children, we serve 160 meals each day. It’s a daily struggle.” That’s why CBN’s Orphan’s Promise gave the children 100 chickens. Josue and Gadiel both stepped up and took on the responsibility of taking care of the chickens. And they’re doing a great job. Gadiel said, “My brother taught me how to feed and carry the chickens without hurting them. I really like that.”

Dan Reany said, “Every day, these chickens are laying between 60 and 70 eggs, that´s more than enough for all of the kids here, and the extra eggs get sold in the local market. The brothers invited me into the corral to show me how they feed the chickens. Next up, egg hunt! Finding them is a serious task for the kids.

They count them all, and then take them to the kitchen. When the meal was ready, Josue and Gadiel wanted a ride to the cafeteria.”

“I feel happy that my friends are eating the eggs that we find,” said Gadiel. “They are delicious!” With all the added protein, these guys are growing up to be big and strong. And thanks to CBN partners, the kids here are receiving more than a good meal.

Arizbeth said, “This project is a blessing. The children get involved taking care of them. They learn the value of work and they get to eat something natural and healthy.” Holding a chicken, Gadiel said, “I am happy that you came to visit us.

Thank you!”

Want To Read More Stories?

Visit cbneurope.com/impact to read more inspiring stories about how God has used CBN across the globe.

GLOBAL IMPACT | 15

A New Home Kenya

Dora is a single grandmother who enjoys raising her grandchildren. For many years they lived in a small home in Kenya made from sticks and thatched grass.

Their living conditions were so bad that whenever it rained, the roof leaked. And one day, a cooking fire caused smoke to affect their eyes and lungs. Through it all, Dora remained hopeful, praying to God for help.

And friends like you were the answer to her prayers. Thanks to partner support, CBN’s Operation Blessing provided a new home complete with brick walls, a metal roof, and even a rain-harvesting system to give access to drinking water.

Thank you CBN partners for supporting the work of CBN’s Operation Blessing, helping people like Dora.

Drinking From a Filthy Pit Asia

7-year-old Srey Leang often got sick from drinking dirty water from a pit well that villagers had dug. “There is mud, moss and rubbish in the pit,” she said. In rainy season, grandma and Srey Leang get water from a pond in a rice field.

Other times they have to walk a long way to another water source across a dangerous road. “My grandma won’t let me get water there alone,” said Srey Leang. “The cars drive really fast. A few months ago, a kid died on that road.”

One day Srey Leang got so sick from drinking the polluted water that her grandma and aunt thought she would die. “I called the doctor to come to my house,” her aunt told us. “She had a really high fever. It cost us $65-dollars to treat her.”

When Operation Blessing learned about Srey Leang and the village, we dug a well for them. Next, we filled in the unsafe pit well. Now, Srey Leang and everyone in the community has plenty of clean water for drinking, cooking and bathing.

“When they were drilling the well, I felt so happy!” said Srey Leang. “Thank you for giving me clean water to drink!”

16 | CBN AUSTRALASIA

Ministry Update An update on CBN’s ministry in Australia & New Zealand

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ith the help from CBN Partners like you we are sharing the Good News of Jesus to Australasia!

We asked our key ministry partners to share updates from the region.

Our partner ministry Shine TV in New Zealand broadcast a variety of CBN programming including the daily 700 Club, Christian World News, Studio 5 and Superbook. Michael Brown, Director of Visual media shared the following update: It is incredible to see how God is using The 700 Club in reaching and healing individuals. We received some wonderful viewer comments: “A year ago I lost my husband and watching mainstream TV made me even more depressed. Watching Shine TV has changed my outlook, I face the world and am happy, I just look at things in a totally different light.” - Maureen.

‘Shine TV really helped during lockdowns, when we have not been able to attend church, but I’ve been able to watch Church at Home on

02 7908 0700 (AUS) 04 488 0700 (NZ) www.cbnaustralasia.org Sundays.’ - Robyn.

‘The testimonies on Shine of those who have really struggled and come through because they have met the Saviour, have helped to uplift me and realise my purpose, and remind me that, yes, God is faithful and he really does answer our prayers!’ – Ros

Alex Panetta, the CEO of TBN Pacific wrote the following update: Australia has often been known as “the land down under” Ironically, that phrase may now change to “the land under lockdown”. Melbourne has officially taken 1st place worldwide, as the city under the longest lockdown since COVID began. Australia has always been known and as the land of the free, but it seems that the very freedom many fought hard to protect is now under siege. Whether it’s politics

CBN AUSTRALASIA | 17 at work or not we know who the real enemy is. Unfortunately, not only are many suffering, they’re completely alone! This is just heart-breaking!

Australia as much as New Zealand and her companion islands of the South Pacific need the Gospel now more than ever!

Despite of all the hardships and bad news, we’re super encouraged to hear that viewers have been very encouraged by the many programmes they watched. Many have called and expressed their gratitude in having TBN Pacific by their side to help them through in the midst of their worst trials.

Lord! We proclaim Australia will no longer be “the land under lockdown” but it shall be known as “The Great Southland of the Holy Spirit”.

Our viewers love and enjoy the variety of programming. From Pat Robertson’s, The 700 Club to Margaret Court’s, A Life of Victory and so many more! We need to keep pressing into the Spirit of God until we see a breakthrough for our Nation!

Don’t give up! “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” - 2 Timothy 1:7 TBN Pacific has been operational since 2008. Our broadcasts are 24/7 throughout Australia, New Zealand and Pacific Isles. Our Free to Air broadcasts are available via Satellite, Cable & IPTV platforms throughout the region. You can further access TBN Pacific via our website or by downloading ‘TBN Pacific Live’ via Apple TV, Apple iOS and Google Play.

Craig Jeffs, Channel Operations Director at ACCTV shared the following update: At ACCTV we love GOOD TV and we love sharing it. As an Australian based Video on Demand (VOD) and Subscription Broadcast TV platform, ACCTV offers stories that inspire, encourage, build up and declare God’s love to viewers across the whole country.

Over the past year, the ability to access stories of faith, hope and love has been life-changing for Pastors like Steve in Sydney. ACCTV encourages him to be a better man, husband and church leader. He also uses the free app as an opportunity to share hope-filled content with people he meets through his church’s street ministry.

“People aren’t going to walk into the church anymore, but we are getting an opportunity to give those people we meet Christian content to watch”, said Pastor Steve.

“The content on ACCTV is a great way to share the gospel through video rather than written literature”.

At ACCTV, we are thankful for partnering with CBN to offer all Australian’s free access to a vast array of quality, relevant programming that are family friendly and support Christian values.

18 | CBN AUSTRALASIA out to the hundreds of children eagerly checking their letterboxes.

Lastly, we have a wonderful partnership with Vision Christian Media in Australia. Heather, our Superbook Coordinator, wrote the following update: We are excited to see that Superbook has survived and thrived through the covid pandemic as churches, schools, and families work out ways to do life differently. As households move away from having DVD players, we average a new family a day, taking up our monthly Superbook Streaming option.

Here’s what Christine says, ‘The grandchildren love Superbook but consider themselves too old for DVDs, we’ve moved to the Streaming Club, and they love it all over again.’

Once again, we have partnered with Harvest Church in Horsham, Victoria, with their annual Operation 19:14 event, usually held as a significant community get-together. This year it will be a coffee and donut drive-through with adults and children getting ‘Show Bags.’ The children’s bags will be full of Superbook goodies: DVDs, balloons, trading cards, and posters.

This month, Chris, Joy and Gizmo were stuck on the high seas as the ship bringing the DVDs for Superbook Club was delayed by a couple of weeks.

Happy to say they docked in Brisbane in the early hours of Monday morning and arrived here today. We will be busy putting our packs together to get them

I would love to share what God is doing with Christian radio in Australia at the moment. A high-powered 10,000 watt Radio FM licence came on the market that covers the city of Hobart, Tasmania and its surrounds. It is rare for these licences to become available.

The price would be a total unknown, as it would be sold by auction. Vision Christian Media put a call out to our supporters to help build a ‘War Chest’ to participate in the process. The response was amazing. We raised far more than we could ever imagine, won the auction, and have money to spare to cover set-up costs!

Please uplift our key ministry partners in Australasia and our CBN Hope Team in your prayers. Thank you CBN Partners for helping us to share hope and light to the far corners of the earth, even as far as Australasia! For more information about our ministry partners in Australasia visit their websites at: www.shinetv.co.nz www.acc.tv www.tbnpacific.org.au www.vision.org.au

CBN READ 20 | FEATURED

NEVER LOSE YOUR WONDER

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here is something about this season that makes me think of childlike faith.

No one fully revels in the Christmas season like a child. They have the faith to believe that they will receive the pony they crave or the ridiculously expensive Lego set. They are unstoppable!

There are likely endless articles that you could read about childlike faith.

I’m not touching on something that we are unfamiliar with. The concept is written about in the Bible (Matthew 18v3, Mark 10v14-15, Luke 18v7) and is taught in churches across the globe.

But how about if, this year, we stopped amidst the information overflow and considered something a little deeper than childlike faith.

What about wonder?

A close friend has recently given birth to a beautiful baby boy and he is just perfect. He has a cute button nose and soft baby skin. He’s amazing. I can completely grasp the concept of ‘babygazing’ (where you spend hours simply staring at a new-born baby!)

However, the thing that struck me most when holding my friend’s new-born baby was how his eyes sparkled in the glow of the fairy lights in my home.

Now, I know that his vision has not developed enough to be able to see the lights clearly necessarily, but there was something about the motion of the pulsing lights that drew his attention and he was undoubtedly gazing at the gentle warmth of the fairy lights.

A child has a sense of wonder that I believe we can lose as adults.

We are surrounded every day by miracles. The very fact that you exist is a miracle! How can we become so familiar with such wonderful realities?

I’m not suggesting that we should walk around with our mouths permanently wide open because of the wonder that surrounds us but, at this time of year in particular, I think it is fitting to pause and remember wonder.

What makes you say ‘wow’?

Is it the thought of the seemingly endless galaxy we live in?

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WONDER – TO BE FILLED WITH ADMIRATION, AMAZEMENT OR AWE; TO MARVEL AT.

Is it a new-born baby?

Wide eyed and mystified.

Is it a beautiful bride in her crisp white gown and veil?

Wow.

For me, it’s the sea. Whenever I’m near the sea I get a sense of wonder. I think it’s because of its sheer magnitude.

And depth. The thought of being placed in the very middle of the vast ocean is enough to have me breathing very heavily!

The sea can give you a sense of perspective that few other natural phenomena can. It puts your size, frailty and mortality into harsh reality.

Perhaps there is room for considering the wonder of Christmas again this year?

There is a song by Bethel music that has the most captivating lyrics around the concept of wonder. It goes like this: May we never lose our wonder May we never lose our wonder Wide eyed and mystified May we be just like a child Staring at the beauty of our King May we never lose our wonder

It’s no problem if some things confuse us due to their grandeur. It’s beautiful!

God’s ways are higher than ours, His thoughts infinitely beyond our own.

This Christmas, I encourage you to take out your Bible (I would advise a paper Bible so that you’re not distracted by your phone alerts!) and turn to one of the Gospel accounts of Jesus’ birth.

Allow the immaculate conception, the remarkable birth and the subsequent celebration to wash over you anew.

Allow salvation and eternity to puzzle you and be encouraged by thoughts of Heaven.

I pray that we never lose our sense of wonder and that, this Christmastime, we each find something new to marvel at. Bless you.

Charmain Hibberd Marketing Assistant

22 | SUPERBOOK

THE NATIVITY I don’t know about you, but one of my earliest memories of Christmas was taking part in my Primary School Nativity play. I’ve been an Angel, a Star, an Inn Keeper, a Shepherd, a Chicken and I think one year maybe even a Sheep! I also really love watching films about the Nativity and seeing what strange roles the children end up playing. There’s been lobsters and Elvis Presley Angels!

These Nativities stray far from the real story of the birth of Jesus in most cases, however there is something important we can glean from these funny and beautiful plays - how to be more childlike. In the Bible, Jesus answers the question of who is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven with this answer, “Truly I tell you, unless you

change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.” (Matthew 18v3-5 NIV) Wow, what a statement. In the days that Jesus was alive, children would have been expected to be seen and not heard. Until they were considered adults (around the age of 12) they were some of the least in society. While Jesus was preaching, people would try to stop the children from seeing him, but Jesus commanded that they let the children come to him. Children are important to God, just as we all are. In the Psalms we read ‘Behold, children

SUPERBOOK | 23 are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one’s youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.’ (Psalm 127v35 ESV) So maybe this Christmas time (and throughout the year) we should think about how we can be more childlike with our faith. This may look like us being more trusting of God just as children trust their parents. We could allow more joy into our lives, laugh a bit

more and see the best in the situations we are facing. It may be as simple as keeping our prayers simple and to the point. Children are amazing at saying it as it is and saying what they see.

I pray this Christmas is one of childlike joy, great fellowship and abundant peace.

Merry Christmas!

Jessica Forster Superbook UK Coordinator

Watch all of your favourite Superbook episodes on the CBN Family App! Available On: Watch now on Roku streaming devices, Apple TV, Android TV, Samsung TV (Tizen), Apple & Android mobile devices or head over to cbn.com/partners/ video to watch online!

24 | PRAYER NEEDS

PRAYER We believe in the power of prayer! Will you join with us as we ask God to provide, bless and establish? Thank you for standing with us!

Hope Line We receive hundreds of calls each month through our Hope Line from all across the UK, Europe, and Australasia where we continue to see salvation, recommitment, and testimonies of God’s faithfulness and provision.

Please pray for God to continue to intervene as our team prays with callers. Please also pray for more testimonies of God answering these prayers to come in.

Media Please pray for the reach of our social media and TV broadcasting, that we would see a rise in engagement with the great content of hope and God’s love going out to the nations each week. Pray for God to use each video, TV segment and image to speak to those who engage with the content, that we would see lives changed and people brought closer to Him. Superbook Superbook, CBN’s animated Bible series, continues to increase its reach in so many countries across the globe. Please continue to pray that more children and families would be introduced to the hope that is found in Jesus through this ministry. We praise God that he uses the seemingly small and simple things to spread his message to all generations.

Operation Blessing Please continue to pray for the work that Operation Blessing is doing with Hope Boxes; since January this project has seen many families fed through the distribution. Please pray that this work would continue to expand.

Volunteers The fields are white unto harvest, but the laborers are few. Please pray that as we promote for more volunteers that God would bring people in. We praise God for our current brilliant team of volunteers so please pray that we would see this incredible team grow enabling us to do more for His kingdom than ever before.

Eternal Wall of Answered Prayer CBN partners with the ‘Eternal Wall of Answered Prayer’ who are building a new God centred UK monument.

Please pray that we would continue to receive testimonies of answered prayer to pass on in efforts to fill the wall with hope-filled stories of God’s faithfulness. Please pray for the building progress itself as plans are set into motion in 2022. Do you have a testimony to share? Call the CBN Answered Prayer Line on 0300 561 0080 and share your testimony to thousands of others to inspire their faith.

26 | TESTIMONIES

TESTIMONIES Please join us in celebrating the following testimonies of God’s goodness. He has come through for caller after caller, following devoted prayer from our dedicated team. We are seeing breakthrough on a daily basis.

Healing Lyn called to say that she was healed from a parasite which she has had since 2018 after a word of knowledge of whilst watching the 700 club. Praise God! Healing Bernadette called in, she said she rang yesterday for prayer for acid reflux and has been feeling really low. She said a lovely man listened to her and was compassionate and he then offered to pray. In her heart she felt like refusing prayer but held herself back to allow him to pray. Just 10 minutes later, our programme came on and Gordon had a word of knowledge. He said that he saw someone struggling with heartburn and prayed for healing.

She was instantly healed. She was delighted and tearful. Jesus heals!

Salvation Andrew picked up the phone for himself tonight. He is a young man struggling with life and addiction.

He heard the Good News of Jesus in our conversation this evening and accepted Him as his Lord and Saviour.

Hallelujah!

Healing Phyllis phoned with a praise report today. She had been deaf in her right ear for 40 years and while watching the 700 Club this afternoon, she received healing. She can now hear well in her right ear!

Provision Sally called in to thank us and to report an answer to prayer the same day their friend in the USA received all the medical help and medicine prayed for.

God is so good.

Healing Please join me in thanking God for my son Josiah who we previously prayed to stop drinking alcohol. For two months now he has not been drinking.

To God be the glory.

He is faithful and cares for His children.

We will not be put to shame. Praise God!

@CBNEUROPE

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28

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Christmas Whether you like to rock around the Christmas tree or want to sit back and enjoy a silent night, let the sounds of CBN Radio Christmas celebrate with you this year.

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YOUR WAYS TO GIVE | 29

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