Advent Letter from Archbishop Ben Kwashi
13th December 2019
Archbishop Ben Kwashi

“In this time of Advent when we wait for the long expected Jesus, we remember and walk with the Suffering Church around the world in peaceful trust, joyous reflection and hopeful waiting for that day when He will make all things new.The photo on this card is from a church in South Asia where the Advent and Christmas Seasons can bring trials and testing as persecution tends to increase. Follow Gafcon this month as we bring regular prayer requests for our brothers and sisters in Christ as we stand with them through the Suffering Church Network.”

Peace be with you!

Our Advent card celebrates the wonderful truth that our Lord Jesus who first appeared in the humility of the incarnation will most certainly return in glory, ‘For all the promises of God find their Yes in him’ (2 Cor 1:20). The gospel brings a hope that nothing and nobody else can give and living myself in a situation where Christians risk their lives for faithfulness to Christ, I know the power of this hope to sustain and strengthen.

One of the highlights of 2019 was our March G19 conference in Dubai for Anglicans living in predominantly Islamic countries who were not able to attend Jerusalem, designed to help them serve Christ in ‘restricted situations’. Over 130 were able to attend thanks to the generosity of our supporters and the conference has left a lasting legacy with the formation of the Gafcon Suffering Church network.

During 2019 the work of Gafcon has continued to expand and to equip Anglicans around the world to proclaim Christ globally.  For example, two new Gafcon branches have been formed, in Tanzania and in Ghana, two Bishops Training Institute Conferences have been held, one in Kenya and one in Brazil, and in New Zealand a new diocese has been recognized by Gafcon, the Church of Confessing Anglicans Aotearoa/New Zealand (CCAANZ) which will be vital for the future of faithful Anglican witness in that region.

And I am looking forward with great anticipation to our Kigali 2020 Bishops Conference in June next year with its theme ‘consecrated to Christ’. My vision is for bishops to go out from this conference renewed and refreshed to be Christ-like leaders who are passionate about reaching the lost and who are zealous for those committed to their care.

I am deeply grateful for your support and prayers throughout the year and I hope very much that you will continue and increase that support to help us meet the growing demands of this great project the Lord has called us to share in. Regular giving is especially helpful, which I hope you will prayerfully consider if this is something you are not already doing.

May you know the joy and peace of Emmanuel, God with us, in this Advent and  Christmas season.

The Lord be with you!

Archbishop Ben A Kwashi

Gafcon General Secretary

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 Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6