New Years message from TFM
Here is a message from Dan Holland for the New Year, both the the short video here and the words below.
A NEW YEAR AND A NEW SEASON
Reflecting on the year that has now passed into posterity and the exciting new year we are embarking on, I was drawn to Isaiah 43. Isaiah is the Shakespeare of the old testament, as well as the ‘evangelical’ who prophesies more about Jesus than anyone else. Isaiah helps us to reflect, like Israel, on God’s faithfulness to Israel and by extension, to us.
God has made steady provision through the decades of TFM, I am still piecing the history together through meeting some of the key figures like Roger Murphy, Richard Scott and of course our founder Dan Cozens. It was by faith TFM started 40 years ago and it is by faith we forge our way into a new season,
This is what the LORD says— he who made a way through the sea, a path through the mighty waters, who drew out the chariots and horses, the army and reinforcements together, and they lay there, never to rise again, extinguished, snuffed out like a wick:
(Is 43v 16-17)
I had a coffee with George Martin before Christmas. George relayed a conversation he had had with Dan Cozens recently; Dan said (prophesied?) that TFM would go in a different direction. I took great interest and encouragement from this in seeking God’s vision for the way forward. We’ve never been this way before (Joshua 3v 4). In Isaiah’s prophecy God reminds His people of His faithful and miraculous leading (specifically out of slavery in Egypt into the promised land). He follows this with an exhortation which I paraphrase; ‘but don’t settle there, put down your rose tinted glasses, and use what I have done in the past as the launch pad for what I will do now in this next season’. We’re called ‘Through Faith’ for a reason, it’s time to pioneer again, to faithfully present the timeless gospel to this rebellious nation.
“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.
(v18-19)
‘Do you perceive it? Do I perceive it? God asks because it is not always immediately obvious.
God is on the move and doing new things with and through TFM. I’m excited even though I don’t know exactly where He is taking us, but there are some early clues. We’ve joined a chaplaincy in one of the biggest heavy metal festivals in Europe! We’ve increased the spectrum of churches we work with to regularly include Pentecostal and independent churches, alongside the more familiar networks. In our latest promo we’ve clearly pitched to the next generation of future TFMers (Through Faith!). We’re planning an internship along with the Light College.
Change is here to stay.
Even in this country which can seem so hardened against the gospel, a ‘desert’ land, God will send streams of His Holy Spirit to water, soften and refresh. We needn’t fear another long journey across the desert (metaphorically speaking). God will protect TFM and cause us to reach our destination, even the wild animals ‘honour’ and submit to Him.
The wild animals honour me, the jackals and the owls, because I provide water in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland, to give drink to my people, my chosen, the people I formed for myself that they may proclaim my praise.
(v20-21)
We can confidently follow His cloud by day and pillar of fire by night (Ex 13v 21-22). Someone wise said,
God will not lead us where he can’t feed us, or guide us where He can’t provide for us.
It’s 2024 and time for TFM to dream again, like those ancient Israelites who took God at His word. We will follow Him on new paths discovering new places and new ways to proclaim God’s praise, through the gospel of Jesus Christ. The best is ahead…..
When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dreamed.
(Psalm 126v 1)
For he was (we are) looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
(Heb 11v 14)
Happy new year!
Dan Holland Lead evangelist at Through Faith Mission