Dear Alpha and Omega Family

"Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?" The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."
(1 Corinthians 15:54b-56)

Today, around the World over 2 billion Christians will be celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Just think! One in every three people. However, what about the other 4 billion of whom 1 billion are Muslims. As I write this letter to you I am so grateful to the Lord that most of you know Jesus as your Lord and Saviour and therefore you are saved. If you wonder if you are saved or not then let me ask you a few questions.
First: Do you believe in God?
Second: Do you believe in Jesus Christ that He is God in flesh and that He came to this earth to live among us?
Third: Do you believe that Jesus died on the cross for your sins?
Fourth: Do you believe that He rose again from the dead and sits on the right hand of God the Father?
If you have answered yes to all those questions then you are saved.

"If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."
(Romans 10:9)

What a wonderful gift salvation is. What a wonderful gift that faith is. What a wonderful privilege we have to know Jesus as Lord and Saviour and so when we speak the words: "Christ has risen!" We know that it is the truth and we can respond with all our hearts: "Christ has risen indeed!" United we are because of the blood of Christ that was shed for your sin and mine, for your faults and mine, for your failures and mine so that in Christ we are forgiven and made right with God. Not because of anything we have done or not done but because of everything Christ has done for us. We have eternal life not just for the future but for now. With eternal life as our gift we are free and empowered to share that love of God with everyone around us and what a privilege that is! Friends in Christ, Brothers and Sisters in Jesus, we truly are blessed, enriched, empowered because of Christ's death and resurrection. Now Death no longer has any power over us - it's sting is gone.

Before Christ, death was like this great monster who would swallow up all those who died and they would be destroyed by this monster. When Christ came and died the monster of death swallowed Jesus but it was like Jesus got caught in the monsters throat causing the monster to gag and forcing the monster to spit out Jesus and all the dead. Once all the dead were spit up the monster's mouth was sewn shut and now the monster can no longer swallow the dead and so the sting of death is no more. The power of death has been conquored by Christ and now those who place their faith in Jesus, are Christs and those who do not believe wait until the great judgment when they will be judged for their deeds and their rebellion against God. Jesus changed everything in His dying for our sin and His rising again. So in Christ we are saved from death, our sinful nature and the devil. In Christ we have the victory. It does not mean that difficulties do not come our way, it does not mean that we will have good health and riches and no problems. Storms will come, sickness will come, financial difficulties will come but through it all God is with us and He will never leave us or forsake us.

Because of Christ we have hope and eternal life, forgivness and salvation, and strength to get us through even the greatest storms of life. Because He lives we can face tomorrow, because He lives we have the power for today and for eternity...

Christ has risen! Christ has risen! Christ has risen!
In Canada, Ukraine and all over the world... Amen