February 14, 2018, marks the beginning of the period of Lent, which is the period of forty days excluding Sundays until the day before Easter.
All World Olivet Assembly churches and members around the world will begin this period with sincere prayer and repentance toward God's mercy. They will embrace a period of self-giving that seeks for God to grant victory on the path of the cross together with Christ.
"I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me." (Philippians 3:10-12)
Apostle Paul simply condensed his true vocation of life in this way. The Lenten time is a special season where all Christians make collective efforts to reveal the cross vividly by repenting of their sins and impurities. Receiving forgiveness and blessing without repentance leaves Christianity superficial and outward.
Lent often includes repentance, fasting, and preparation of the heart to greet Easter. Participants are urged to examine their faith and reflect deeply. Among Christians in the early church, Lent was a period for preparing new believers for baptism.
"Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people," state Hebrews 9:28. Death brings failure and a complete end to all people. However, it was overcome by Jesus our Lord through His love for all. Lent is a time for meditating on this mystery of death and life in Jesus that concluded with the power of resurrection.
WOA churches sincerely hope to experience the powerful intervention of the Holy Spirit in this Lenten time of the year. May all members renew their mind, put down old practices and experience a miracle together by uniting with Jesus Christ during this Lenten period.