December 21, 2003

Dear Friends,

This morning, the Reverend Max Chigwida, pastor of City Presbyterian Church here in Harare, said that the story of Christmas "is about the God who works from the edge." God seldom works from the centers of power in our world. That's how I would do it! In actual fact, I would rather that the centers of power bring about peace and hope in our land rather than having to participate myself in the process. But Max's point was that God uses little people, the least, the insignificant, to build His Kingdom. Each of us has a significant part to play as we walk with Jesus and His people.

God works from the edge. It was through the birth of a child born to a teenager in a nowhere place like Bethlehem that God sent forth the precious light and life of Jesus into the world.

God works from the edge. That statement hauntingly and almost fearfully bounces around in my mind and heart as I think about celebrating Christmas this year. We are filled with anticipation of the visit of our children and nieces. They begin arriving December 26 and we can't wait. If God works from the edge, then if we are too completely caught up in our family's celebration, we might just miss out on what God is doing. And that is our fear, for we want most of all to see and be a part of what God is doing.

On this the last Sunday of Advent, our prayer for the people of Zimbabwe and America and for you and for ourselves is that from time to time this Christmas season we might drift towards the edge of the excitement and catch a glimpse of what God is doing and how God wants us to cooperate with Him.

Wishing you a merry Christmas and all of God's best in the New Year.

Bob and Bobbi Snyder

The 2004 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 64