15 May 2026, 08:40Dr Kirk Thomas, South England Conference PresidentWatford, Hertfordshire, England, United Kingdom
Hope Beyond the Kingdoms of This World
Pastoral Letter, 15 May 2026
Dear Church Family,
With much uncertainty in the political arena today, many people experience feelings of anxiety and confusion. It can be discouraging to read the news and wonder what the future will bring. However, for those who believe in the Kingdom of God, there is hope in difficult times. There is a source of strength to cope with the struggles of this world. There is a need to have faith amidst turmoil.
The Kingdom of God or of Heaven is a spiritual place where God is King, and He rules in the hearts of believers. We can read about it in the Bible. The Bible teaches us that the Kingdom is not of this world, that it is not of human origin or about human rule. It is rather about love and a life of justice and peace. For those who believe in the Kingdom of God or of Heaven, it gives hope and comfort when things in this world are uncertain or even chaotic.
People think of political unrest and the uncertainty of it all, they might miss an even more superior kingdom, at work amidst all the confusion. The Kingdom of God. This spiritual empire was founded upon three basic values: Love, Justice, and Peace. All this is accomplished in heaven through Jesus, the King of all Kings, while here on earth through His ambassadors, who carry out this God-honouring structure in various ways. Here is a short account of two biblical examples of faith exercised by two famous historical figures of the biblical era.
Esther had become queen of Persia, a Jewish woman in a foreign land. When a plot was hatched by the king’s prime minister to destroy all of the Jews in the kingdom, Esther realised that her own people were in grave danger. She knew that if she spoke up, she would most likely lose her position and possibly her life, but she also knew that if she remained silent, her people would be killed. It was a hard decision to make, but in prayer, Esther felt that God was guiding her to take a stand. In a very unusual circumstance, Esther entered the king’s presence uninvited. Her actions brought attention to the situation of her people and resulted in their deliverance. Her faith had given her the strength to make the difficult decision, and her actions showed that she was willing to risk her own life in order to do what was right. Are you willing to do the same today?
These stories remind us that with faith in the Kingdom of God, we will have the courage to face up to any uncertainty. The word of God says that God is with us, and He guides us through the trials and tribulations of life. This is what Jesus was saying in Luke 12:31 when He was asked about the Kingdom of God: “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you.”
In addition, because Jesus taught that the greatest commandment is to love God above all else and to love our neighbours as ourselves, we are reminded that love is stronger than fear and that by following the teachings of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, we can build a community that will help each other in times of uncertainty and distress.
The Apostle Paul in the New Testament faced extreme political and social oppression. In many of the letters which he wrote to the first Christian churches, he implored his readers to stand firm in their faith despite the many tribulations and difficulties that were coming upon them. He wrote in several of his letters that the believers are actually “heavenly citizens” and their true hope for the future is to be with God in Heaven and not in a political or earthly realm. The Christians of the New Testament believed that their ultimate allegiance and dedication were to the Kingdom of God and not to the Kingdom of men.
In today’s world of ever-changing circumstances, it is more important than ever to hold fast to our beliefs about the future. With every new change, there is a chance that we will lose our way in this chaotic world and feel as though we are without hope. But there is hope for those who believe in God’s Plan for the world. We are not alone in this world, and many others like us hold fast to the same beliefs and values that we do. It is very important to stay close to others of like faith to encourage and support one another in times of uncertainty. And always remember that there is hope for a better tomorrow for those who put their trust in God. We can learn from the examples of Daniel, Esther, Jesus, and the Apostle Paul about focus and priorities in moments of struggle and crisis. In summary, I pray that God will give us hope and strength to endure during uncertain times and not be caught up in the kingdoms of this world. As we struggle through our societal issues and politics, we must always remember to hold on to our faith in God. During this time, when the emphasis seems to be on the distracting things of life, remember to hold on to your faith in God’s Kingdom. The issues of love, justice and peace are still important to God.
Dear Church Family,
With much uncertainty in the political arena today, many people experience feelings of anxiety and confusion. It can be discouraging to read the news and wonder what the future will bring. However, for those who believe in the Kingdom of God, there is hope in difficult times. There is a source of strength to cope with the struggles of this world. There is a need to have faith amidst turmoil.
The Kingdom of God or of Heaven is a spiritual place where God is King, and He rules in the hearts of believers. We can read about it in the Bible. The Bible teaches us that the Kingdom is not of this world, that it is not of human origin or about human rule. It is rather about love and a life of justice and peace. For those who believe in the Kingdom of God or of Heaven, it gives hope and comfort when things in this world are uncertain or even chaotic.
People think of political unrest and the uncertainty of it all, they might miss an even more superior kingdom, at work amidst all the confusion. The Kingdom of God. This spiritual empire was founded upon three basic values: Love, Justice, and Peace. All this is accomplished in heaven through Jesus, the King of all Kings, while here on earth through His ambassadors, who carry out this God-honouring structure in various ways. Here is a short account of two biblical examples of faith exercised by two famous historical figures of the biblical era.
Esther had become queen of Persia, a Jewish woman in a foreign land. When a plot was hatched by the king’s prime minister to destroy all of the Jews in the kingdom, Esther realised that her own people were in grave danger. She knew that if she spoke up, she would most likely lose her position and possibly her life, but she also knew that if she remained silent, her people would be killed. It was a hard decision to make, but in prayer, Esther felt that God was guiding her to take a stand. In a very unusual circumstance, Esther entered the king’s presence uninvited. Her actions brought attention to the situation of her people and resulted in their deliverance. Her faith had given her the strength to make the difficult decision, and her actions showed that she was willing to risk her own life in order to do what was right. Are you willing to do the same today?
These stories remind us that with faith in the Kingdom of God, we will have the courage to face up to any uncertainty. The word of God says that God is with us, and He guides us through the trials and tribulations of life. This is what Jesus was saying in Luke 12:31 when He was asked about the Kingdom of God: “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you.”
In addition, because Jesus taught that the greatest commandment is to love God above all else and to love our neighbours as ourselves, we are reminded that love is stronger than fear and that by following the teachings of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, we can build a community that will help each other in times of uncertainty and distress.
The Apostle Paul in the New Testament faced extreme political and social oppression. In many of the letters which he wrote to the first Christian churches, he implored his readers to stand firm in their faith despite the many tribulations and difficulties that were coming upon them. He wrote in several of his letters that the believers are actually “heavenly citizens” and their true hope for the future is to be with God in Heaven and not in a political or earthly realm. The Christians of the New Testament believed that their ultimate allegiance and dedication were to the Kingdom of God and not to the Kingdom of men.
In today’s world of ever-changing circumstances, it is more important than ever to hold fast to our beliefs about the future. With every new change, there is a chance that we will lose our way in this chaotic world and feel as though we are without hope. But there is hope for those who believe in God’s Plan for the world. We are not alone in this world, and many others like us hold fast to the same beliefs and values that we do. It is very important to stay close to others of like faith to encourage and support one another in times of uncertainty. And always remember that there is hope for a better tomorrow for those who put their trust in God. We can learn from the examples of Daniel, Esther, Jesus, and the Apostle Paul about focus and priorities in moments of struggle and crisis. In summary, I pray that God will give us hope and strength to endure during uncertain times and not be caught up in the kingdoms of this world. As we struggle through our societal issues and politics, we must always remember to hold on to our faith in God. During this time, when the emphasis seems to be on the distracting things of life, remember to hold on to your faith in God’s Kingdom. The issues of love, justice and peace are still important to God.
