2020 What a Year!

2020 has been a year for the books. In the Cayman Islands, we have experienced earthquakes (nearly unheard of here), an out-of-control fire at the dump, an extreme lockdown period due to COVID-19, the mandate of civil partnerships by the governor, an active hurricane season and more.

2020 has surely been a year of fear, uncertainty and even despair. Yet with the apostle Paul we say, "We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body" (2 Corinthians 4:8-10).

We've had to learn many things; for example, how to livestream a church service, how to conduct Zoom meetings. But we've also learned the sustaining grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

We have experienced loss and change in different ways. We were locked down before Easter, meaning we could not gather for our traditional Good Friday service, community Easter sunrise service, or even our own Easter church service. We also had to celebrate Mother's Day virtually, though we were able to regather just in time for Father's Day.

Other special activities, such as Youth Challenge, Vacation Bible School, and our Christmas trailer caroling have been put aside. Yet through all this change and disruption, there has been a core group in our church who have remained faithful, labored tirelessly, and, we believe, are growing spiritually.

As we reflect on all that has happened, all that has changed, and look forward to a new year, we are convinced that most important of all is the commission Jesus left us: "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you" (Matthew 28:19–20, ESV).

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