All Things New

By Jeannie Lockerbie Stephenson, editor

In Revelation 21:5 we read our Lord's words, "Behold, I make all things new." The Bible gives 145 references to NEW things, including the new birth, new covenant, the promise of a new name, and the coming of "new heavens and a new earth" (2 Peter 3:13). Most of these speak of a future time when Christ will reign as King. Yet even at the beginning of the 21st century, we see God working in new and exciting ways.

ABWE missionaries to England, Dennis and Rachel Weaver, share this insight: "The church was large and towered over the town that surrounded it. A memorial on the wall indicated a church building had stood on the spot since before 1453. A large sign in front of the building gave evidence of an active congregation today:

The Millennium is Christ's 2000th birthday. Worship Him here - now."

The Weavers, and their co-workers, Mike and June Bradley, have recently begun establishing the new North Swindon Baptist Church in southwest England.

In this issue of the Message we hope to introduce you to new areas in ABWE: new countries for ABWE to share in the joy of evangelism and church planting; new partnerships with national believers, new churches and new buildings where the churches can meet. Some ideas are so new they are still in the planning stages. We at ABWE look ahead to the day when the words of Revelation 5:9 will come true,

And they sang a NEW song, saying, "Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for Thou wasn't slain, and hast redeemed us to God by Thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation."