As March 5 marks the beginning of Lent for 2025, member churches of Olivet Assembly USA across the country are entering a profound spiritual journey. This forty-day period invites believers to engage in repentance, self-reflection, and a deeper connection with the essence of the cross. Lent is not merely a time for personal fasting and prayer; it serves as an essential opportunity for renewing faith, aligning with the sufferings of Christ, and actively participating in His mission.
The cross stands as the ultimate expression of God’s boundless love and grace, urging every Christian to take up their cross daily and follow in Christ’s footsteps. During this season, believers are called to focus on the immense sacrifice of Jesus, contemplating His suffering and yielding completely to God’s will. However, this journey of reflection should inspire action—it must propel believers to walk the path that Christ paved, guiding the lost and illuminating the way with the light of the gospel.
From Ash Wednesday through Easter, churches worldwide embrace practices of devotion, prayer, and fasting, not just as individual disciplines but as a preparation for mission work. Just as Jesus carried the weight of the cross for humanity’s salvation, believers are called to bear the burdens of others—interceding for the lost and reaching out to those enveloped in spiritual darkness. True faith cannot remain in the realm of silent contemplation; it must manifest in deeds that honor God. In this Lenten season, Christians are encouraged to step out of their comfort zones, embodying the heart of Christ as they guide His flock with compassion and determination.
The message of the cross is one of both suffering and triumph. The resurrection of Jesus Christ underpins the Christian faith, affirming that suffering is not the conclusion but a pathway to eternal glory. Just as Christ endured the cross with the joy set before Him, believers are called to walk in the hope of resurrection as they participate in the gospel’s work. Through trials and perseverance, the power of the resurrection becomes evident in their lives. It is through selflessness for the sake of the gospel that true life is discovered.
This Lent, churches are encouraged to lead their congregations beyond mere personal devotion into active participation in Christ’s calling. Lent is not simply a tradition; it represents a transformative time—a season for refining faith and stepping boldly into the Great Commission. Every believer is summoned to shepherd the flock, reach the unreached, and proclaim the victory of the cross to all corners of the earth. May this Lenten season become a time of renewal, where believers not only reflect on the path of the cross but also actively walk it, advancing the mission of Christ with steadfast faith and devotion.