As we conclude a year of doing old things in new ways, I am reminded of a scripture from Revelations 21:5, “See, I am making all things new. Write for these words are trustworthy and true.” While factories can crank out new items continuously, only God can make an old thing brand new. The year of 2020 challenged us to find new ways for worshiping, making disciples, advocating for peace and justice, and supporting one another.

This year, our attention will be focused upon hosting our first ever virtual Biennial Mission Summit, strengthening our relationships with national and regional staff, developing resources for antiracism work, encouraging safe and healthy practices during the global pandemic, implementing a new American Baptist Information System, strengthening our Board of General Ministries, and accomplishing more together as American Baptists than we can do individually.

As we continue to strengthen what already exists and reconfigure the assets that God has entrusted to us, our greater hope for 2021 is that God will do what only God can do by making us new as individuals and new as the Office of the General Secretary. “So, we do not lose heart. Even though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day.” (2 Corinthians 4:16)

Dr. C. Jeff Woods
Acting General Secretary
American Baptist Churches USA