Some good news for a change
By Paul Bawden
Isn’t it about time for some good news. Well, here’s some!
From February 28, 5 PM PST to March 1, 2025, 6 PM PST, there was a global Christian event that reached into churches, campuses, arenas, and living rooms – from every continent and denomination. This was a joining together of Jesus followers across every time zone to watch the Gather25 broadcast.
For 25 hours, the Global Church was inviting all 2.5 billion believers across the world to pray, repent, worship, and discover how the love of Jesus is transforming the world through everyday people. From this unprecedented event believers were inspired by the stories of how God is moving across the globe, and then to mobilize to share the hope of Jesus with the 5.5 billion people in the world who don’t know Jesus as their personal Savior.
For the first time in history, technology, through live streaming in seven core sessions, connected the global church of Jesus Christ in ways never before possible. It’s the carrying out of Jesus command to believers in Matthew 28, “to go and make disciples of all nations.”
Jennie Allen, Bible teacher, and visionary leader, is the founder of Gather25 for the global church. Motivated by a deep love for God, her mission is to equip and inspire a generation of Jesus followers to live boldly and authentically in their faith. She has written several books and has a master’s degree in biblical studies from Dallas Theological Seminary.
Of course, many other leading Christian leaders and organizations joined in to make Gather25 happen around the world. If you like, you can find out more about Gather25 at its website: Gather25.com, and watch all 25 hours at live.gather25.com.
What took place in those 25 hours February 25 – March 1, 2025 was a phenomenal feat just in the technology that was used. But, even more than that, Gather25 was dealing with the best news there is. What’s that? The gospel of Jesus Christ. Why the gospel?
The word gospel means Good News. It is the eternal message that Christ came into the world to die for us to pay the penalty for our breaking God’s law which is death. He died on that cross where our sin was placed upon Him and paid for. Then, He rose bodily from the grave to prove He was the God-man who could provide us His forgiveness and eternal life (I Corinthians 15:1-5).
The gospel was at the heart of Gather25. It’s why there is a global church that believes the gospel, can celebrate that gospel, and be about sharing that gospel with others world-wide who need to experience the gospel through faith in Jesus Christ.
The gospel is what Good Friday and Easter are all about – forgiveness of sin, eternal life, meaning there’s eternal purpose for living on planet earth, and an eternal home with God after this life through faith in Christ.
Question – What is the gospel to you? I talked to someone recently about the meaning of Easter. The individual didn’t know and was involved in nature. I explained that God was really the Creator of nature, and sent His eternal Son, Jesus Christ, to provide forgiveness and eternal life. I pray this person thinks through the gospel and makes that step of faith to believe the gospel and live in its forgiveness and grace.
How about you? Have you experienced the gospel – the good news? If not, consider the gospel. It can change your life for time and eternity. If so, live in the Good News’ love and power, and celebrate Easter with joy!
Paul Bawden is married and served in the pastoral ministry for 45 years, retiring in 2011. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a B.A. in Speech and attended Dallas Theological Seminary, receiving a Master of Theology. He has taken counseling courses at Trinity Evangelical Seminary in Deerfield, Illinois. Paul is a lifetime member of the Evangelical Free Church of America, as well as being a member of Interim Pastor Ministries (IPM), which serves churches during their time of transition in searching for a new pastor. He writes for Union Gospel Press, as well as being a volunteer writer for GotQuestions.org. Paul likes to write, read, bike, and work in the yard. The Bawdens have had the privilege to travel to Mexico and Romania on mission trips and visited various countries in Europe.