Diakonia 2025-1 Editor’s Notes

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

It is with deep joy and gratitude that I welcome you to Diakonia 2025. As we journey through these pages, we are drawn together by our shared faith, a common hope, and a profound love for our Lord Jesus Christ.

In a world marked by constant change, noise, and uncertainty, this publication serves as a space for spiritual renewal. It is our prayer that each article strengthens your faith and encourages you in your daily walk with Christ.

Published by the Christian Brethren Secretariat of Malaysia (CBSM), Diakonia is more than a magazine – it is a ministry of connection and encouragement. It aims to:

•           Promote unity among Assemblies through shared activities and testimonies

•           Serve as a hub for timely, prayerful, and cooperative action

•           Strengthen the collective witness of the Malaysian Brethren community

This year, we will be releasing two digital editions: Volume 1 in August and Volume 2 in December 2025. Our 2025 theme, “Hope in Times of Uncertainty,” is drawn from 2 Corinthians 4:16–18 – a powerful reminder that even though we face trials, God is constantly renewing us from within.

Holding onto Hope in a Troubled World

We live in a time where crises whether personal, national, or global can leave us shaken. Questions about peace, endurance, and the future are on everyone’s minds. Yet Paul’s words ring clear: “Do not lose heart.” His hope was not rooted in circumstances, but in the eternal work of God. Despite enduring persecution, Paul saw suffering as a path to spiritual renewal. His perspective challenges us today: to view hardships not as setbacks, but as opportunities for God’s transformative power.

The Paradox of Renewal

Faith teaches us that even when life breaks us outwardly, God is working inwardly. Like a seed that must fall into the earth before it grows, our struggles often become the soil for spiritual growth. While the world seeks visible success, Scripture tells us that true transformation begins in the unseen where God shapes our character and deepens our dependence on Him. Hope in Christ does not erase suffering, but lifts our eyes beyond it. What we endure is not wasted. It is preparing us for an eternal glory that far outweighs our momentary troubles.

Hope as a Discipline of Faith

Fixing our eyes on what is unseen is not passive. It is a daily, deliberate act of faith – a discipline that calls us to trust in God’s promises even when life is uncertain. This kind of hope is not based on wishful thinking but on the unchanging nature of God Himself. The God who led His people through the wilderness, who calmed the storm, and who conquered death is the same God walks with us today. He is our firm foundation, our living hope.

Diakonia: A Ministry of Hope

The word Diakonia means “service,” and as believers, we are called to embody hope through our actions. Whether we’re comforting the brokenhearted, advocating for justice, or extending kindness to the marginalized, we become vessels of God’s love in a hurting world.

Our service becomes a tangible expression of the Gospel. It shows that our faith is not only personal, but also public meant to be shared, lived out, and offered freely to others.

A Hope That Endures

Let us be reminded: today’s challenges do not define us. God is at work even in hardship renewing us for something greater. Paul’s words encourage us to lift our gaze to eternal realities. Let us fix our eyes on Christ, walk in faith, and serve in love. Even in the most uncertain of times, we press on—because our hope is eternal.

A Note of Thanks

I want to express my sincere thanks to everyone who contributed to this edition, the writers, designers, editors, and prayer supporters. Your time and effort have helped make Diakonia a meaningful blessing. You can access Volume 1 (Digital Edition) at:

➡️ https://www.cbsm.com.my/site/diakonia/

May this issue inspire you to hold fast to the living hope we have in Christ whose promises are sure, whose love never fails, and whose grace is sufficient in every season.

In Him,

Samuel Chandy, editor.

Email: sam@elim.my