Given that we are now transitioning into the year 2025 it seems best to reflect some on what God has been doing in this past year, as well as share with you all what, it seems to me, he may do in this next year.
First, this marks the first year of my working with Wynn as the Assistant Director for Restoring Wholeness. I want to specifically say “Thank you!” to all of you who have prayed for Wynn, myself and all those who work with this ministry organization. This is a most necessary and appreciated gift and ministry to us. And then also to those who donated funds this year to support the good work we get to do—your investment has allowed Wynn and I to do much needed work for Restoring Wholeness in order to position us well for the coming years.
Second, I want to acknowledge and praise the mighty Name for provisioning and strengthening me and Wynn so that we could work very effectively together. We both recognize (with much gratefulness) how our strengths complement each other and how this new organizational teamwork has enhanced the potential for developing the ministry of Restoring Wholeness to broken people. We are partnering in this way for such a time as this!
Third, the sense that I have is that we are entering a time in our country (United States) and in all nations of the world when God’s work of exposing the sins and deceit and hidden wickedness of all people will expand and intensify. This will be most pronounced in Christian communities and churches and among those who call themselves by the Name of Christ but will also include political, civic and military leaders of countries all around the world.
Perhaps the apostle Peter’s declaration has even more relevance than in past generations:
“For the time has come for judgment to begin with the household of God; if it begins with us, what will be the end for those who do not obey the gospel of God?” (1 Peter 4:17, NRSV)
The reason for God doing this is quite simple: God is bearing witness to people about their actual heart condition, actual patterns and habits of living, actual intentions and inclinations, and actual choices made. This is needful because they must have a basic understanding of themselves if they are to hear the Good News of the Kingdom of God for what it is. Thus they must have an existential understanding of what they actually need in order to be moved to seek the path to break out of the delusions and lies they live in accord with. Thanks be to God this is what our Lord told us was a primary mission of the blessed Holy Spirit (John 16:8-11)!
Fourth, God has been very longsuffering with those of us who call ourselves Christians in the modern Western world. Many of God’s servants have called out to us to recognize and turn from the idolatry of materialism, sensuality and pursuit of power at all costs that characterizes modern culture. This call will continue to be voiced by many, and with greater urgency, because the time of our Lord’s promised return is indeed close at hand. The Lord’s actions with his own people may well be severe and involve pain for us but he is doing this for our good in the end. For he hates anything in his human creatures that blocks them from becoming what he created them for. And our heavenly Father “disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness.” (Hebrews 12:10)
What do these have to do with Restoring Wholeness Ministry? I suggest that the need for this ministry to relationally and sexually broken persons will increase as people come to understand themselves and their actual needs; that those who fall upon the rocks of the consequences of their own secret sins and hidden double lives will need people and supportive guidance from believers who understand how to help them “escape from the corruption that is in the world because of lust . . . .”
(2 Peter 1:4). As the Holy Spirit presses those of us who belong to Christ and shines the light of the risen Christ into the lives of unbelievers then many will become willing to seek true wholeness and healing. We are petitioning the Father for this! Join with us in this and in supporting us.
Jason Caywood