From Olivier:

On Sunday, January 12, 2025, we held our annual Christmas and New Year’s celebrations at the BANA MAYELE center, which takes in and cares for vulnerable children and those in difficult social situations.

For us, this celebration was a privileged moment for all members and other guests to come together as a family. It’s a day that, in all its forms of expression, creates shared memories and fosters a sense of belonging to one big family. It’s a fellowship where we build and consolidate our bonds, express our love to one another and our love for our Lord Jesus Christ.

This celebration was enlivened by a number of activities, including a welcome for members and guests, praise and worship, carols, presentation of a slide show on the theme “At the Dawn of the New Year”, exhortation, testimonies and Candlelight. Children Olivia and Curtis sang “Between the Ox and the Grey Donkey”, a carol that expresses the joy and glory that animated the thousands of angels in heaven praising God for the Savior’s coming into the world.

Our exhortation centered on the theme “Be Faithful: A Vision for the New Year” where the author recommends that we not worry about anything but rather remain faithful each day, one day at a time; thus, we will be faithful until death and inherit a crown of eternal life!

It says: “So don’t try to live the whole year in advance. Just keep busy today and do what you’re supposed to do today. Be faithful today and trust God to keep you faithful every day of this year.” “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him” (James 1:12).

The candlelight, at the center of our celebration, has always been the most eagerly awaited and interesting moment. It’s an opportunity for each of us to express our gratitude and give thanks to God for all the challenges we’ve met, the progress we’ve made, the blessings we’ve received from our Lord Jesus during the past year. It’s also an opportunity to assess where our progress has fallen short of our expectations. And to submit our prayer intentions for the new year ahead.

At the end of the celebration, we shared a convivial meal. A time to exchange and share on other topical subjects, and to bear witness to one’s faith.

We are deeply moved and grateful to everyone who sent us a donation for the organization of this celebration. Your generosity is greatly appreciated among us and will remain forever engraved in our hearts.

Our thanks also go to Madlen for providing us with this wonderful setting. We pray that you will be blessed for your act of generosity.

Here’s a little clip of our celebration:

Omega Venassi : Dear Jesus, I want to thank You for all that You have accomplished for me in 2024, especially for my promotion in economic and social law.

For 2025 I ask You to accomplish all your plans for me. I claim Psalm je te demande de m’aider à servir à tes desseins. Je réclame psaumes 60.12 : Through God we will fight valiantly; and it is he who will crush our enemies.

How great is our God! The king in his beauty, clothed in majesty, the earth is joyful, its glory shines upon us at the sound of his voice. How great is our God, let us sing it, how great is our God, and all shall see how great in our God, for he lives from age to age, time is subject unto him.

Aristote : Dear Jesus, I thank You for all You have done for me this past year. I have shed many tears in 2024 but it is also a year when You have done a lot for me, as You have made a pastor of a church « The sheepfold of Christ » and a teacher of the STEPS Program for the children and of the 12 Foundation Stones for the teenagers. Many times You have sustained me when I needed You, both spiritually, financially and even psychologically. For this new year of 2025 I ask You to be with me and that I may walk with You, because I need to face several challenges. I need You to be my God and to walk with me in all that I will do. I claim this verse in Matthew 19 :26 : Jesus looked at them intently and said, “For humans this is impossible, but for God all things are possible.”