Dear Northside
This week in the sermon we are going to look at how Jesus moves us from disappointment, despair and confusion to hope, and purpose. Here is another story from Easter that shows how an encounter with Jesus is transformational.
A journey from weeping to preaching? The story of Mary Magdalene illustrates this transition from pain to proclamation. On that first Sunday Mary remained outside the tomb, weeping bitterly. An angel appeared to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” Mary was being invited to express her deepest emotions. Shortly afterwards, Jesus Himself appeared and repeated the question. It was upon hearing her name, spoken in the unmistakable voice of her Teacher, that Mary recognized Him. Jesus entrusted her with an extraordinary mission: ‘Go to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’ This is what she did. Mary moved from weeping to proclamation. The resurrected Jesus encountered her and then gave her a mission to communicate His wish to share His Father’s love with an orphaned generation.
Perhaps you are feeling sad and empty. Christ has risen! He has conquered death and like with Mary, He invites you to preach the encouraging news that God longs to be seen as a loving Father. Are you willing to answer this call?
In the Good Friday service we encouraged the congregation to write down a name of someone they would like to know Jesus as saviour and as Lord. These names were placed in a basket at the foot of the cross. We have kept the names and continue to pray that God will make Himself known to them, that He will open their eyes (you need to hear the sermon to understand this more). If you would like to add a name, please feel free to do so. And please continue to pray for these people to encounter Jesus. And just maybe Jesus is asking you to be the person to tell them the story of Easter.
Our theme this year is “Walking in the Spirit: Activated for growth!” Discipleship is how we grow deeper. Evangelism is how we grow wider.
Have you ever felt like evangelism is just too much? Too hard? Like the whole thing depends on you—and you’re already tired? You’re not alone in that. And thankfully, you’re not meant to do it all. 1 Corinthians 3:7 reminds us: “So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.”
This verse lifts the pressure off our shoulders. It’s not all up to you. God is the one who brings growth. That’s His role. Ours is simply to take small, faithful steps—planting seeds of truth, kindness, encouragement, or prayer—and trusting God to do what only He can do.
And here’s something beautiful: we don’t do this in isolation. Evangelism isn’t a solo act—it’s a shared mission. Across the world, in neighbourhoods and cities, believers are living this out together. You might plant, someone else might water, but God is the one who moves hearts.
So what could that look like for you today? It could be sending a message to a friend, offering to pray for someone, inviting them to church, or opening up about how Jesus has changed your life. Simple, faithful actions that God can use in powerful ways.
God bless, Pastor Gary