Placed With Purpose (Jeremiah 29:4-7)

In this New Year message, Joel explores God’s surprising call to His people in exile: “Seek the peace and prosperity of the city… pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.” (Jeremiah 29)

Rather than retreating, God calls His people to build, plant, live, pray, and become a community of shalom — especially in times of uncertainty, fear, and loneliness.

Through Jesus’ words in Matthew 5, we’re reminded that the church is called to be steady light in our neighbourhoods: people who notice, invite, and stay — offering the hope of Christ through ordinary, faithful presence.

This message also introduces our simple church-wide challenge for January:

The 1–1–1 Challenge
• 1 person each week we intentionally connect with
• 1 invitation we extend
• 1 daily prayer — “Lord, take me to the person who needs Your light.”

The Christian hope is not that the year ahead will be easy — but that God will be with us, and God will work through us.

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