DBC president introduces theme for 2025 . . . Living in Anticipation
by Chip Holmes
(Editor’s Note: Each year the DBC president selects a theme for the coming year’s Baker State Mission Offering and annual meeting. This year’s president, Chip Holmes has chosen the theme, “Living in Anticipation,” based on Romans 8:18-19).
We have reached the end of 2024. We must now look forward to what 2025 will bring. That is the very heart of the theme for 2025: “Living in Anticipation!”
As we prepare to get 2025 off to a great start, what sort of things will God be doing? What will God be doing in our convention? What will God be doing in our associations? What will God be doing in our churches? What will God be doing in our personal lives?
All of these questions stem from our theme: Living in Anticipation!
Remember the child-like wonder of Christmas time? Remember how everything shone brighter during that time of year? Remember, as a child, rising so early that our parents’ minds were boggled? The excitement of the moment was there! There was no way to sleep with all the energy flowing through our veins. We just had to see what was next.
So, can we apply this excitement to what God is doing? I believed that we absolutely can. Please, never outgrow that child-like faith.
Our Bible tells us that Jesus is coming back. That is exciting!
Our Bible tells us that God’s Word, when sent out, will not return void. That is exciting!
Our churches unite for the purpose of reaching our planet for Jesus. That is exciting!
How can we not be Living in Anticipation?!
Please join with me as we pray for the new year. Let us unite in prayer that God’s will be done in His Church. Let us unite in prayer that the missionaries that we send will be sharing the Gospel across the world. Let us unite in prayer, anticipating that God will answer these prayers in ways that are beyond our imaginings! We serve a big God. Let our service to Him, and our prayers to Him, reflect our belief that God can do infinitely more than we ever could alone.
Let us begin Living in Anticipation!
Chip Holmes is the pastor of First Baptist Church in Wolsey, SD and Western Way Cowboy Church in Huron, SD. He is also the current president of the Dakota Baptist Convention..