The Light Shines in the Darkness

One of my favorite passages during the Advent season is found in the opening words of the Gospel of John. Verse 5 of chapter 1 reminds us—and promises us—that the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. I may have shared this verse in a previous December newsletter, but it has taken on even greater meaning for me this fall.

This season, I took two international trips—more than I typically prefer—but, as always, I gained far more from these experiences than I gave. The first trip took me to Hong Kong and then into mainland China. I’ll admit, I hadn’t fully grasped the depth of the differences and similarities between Hong Kong and the mainland. In fact, it’s impossible to characterize the mainland with a single narrative. Meeting with women and men who lead various expressions of the church, I witnessed the challenging and ever-evolving dynamics that often bring uncertainty and fear.

The second trip was to Egypt, where I spent time in Cairo as well as cities and villages to the south. Many of our churches have partnerships with congregations in Egypt, and last year ECO entered into an official partnership with the Synod of the Nile. This partnership aims to accelerate these relationships, strengthening Egyptian churches and advancing the gospel in the United States among the Arabic-speaking world. While the church in Egypt enjoys a significant degree of freedom, that freedom is often dependent on the local and national political climate.

Shortly after returning from Egypt, I attended my annual meeting with the executives of denominations that are part of the National Association of Evangelicals. I always look forward to this gathering—not only to connect with a small group of leaders in similar roles but also to gain broader perspectives on the church in America. During one session, we examined both quantitative and qualitative data about the religious landscape of our country. Afterward, during a break, I turned to the person next to me, and we both said simultaneously, “Well, that was depressing!”

It struck me how similar the conversations we had in China and Egypt were to those I was having here in America with other denominational leaders. To be clear, I’m not suggesting that the gravity of the challenges we face is identical to what believers face in China or Egypt. But the nature of the challenges is strikingly similar, all carrying the same underlying question: “Is the darkness taking over?”

And so, the comforting words of John remind us of the answer: No. The darkness will not overcome. This doesn’t mean that the expression of the church won’t look different in the future—in fact, it almost certainly will in all three contexts. There is no promise that any particular congregation or denomination will endure forever. However, the light of Christ will continue to shine through the Church, and the darkness will not overcome it.

This Advent season, and as we enter a new year, I pray that we would not let fear or troubled hearts dominate our perspective. Instead, may we be confident in the power of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, whose light no darkness can ever overcome.

In Christ,

Dana