Below is the following Christmas message from Rev. Capt. Dr. The Hon. Joel Cumberbatch
One writer rightly stated: “Christmas is a time of giving, the most precious gifts of all being love and care. It is a time when we should open our hearts wide and embrace the opportunity to make a positive difference in the lives of others, our closest family members, and strangers alike.”
In challenging times—economically and otherwise—people often adopt self-preservation strategies to ensure their survival. Some may even delude themselves into believing they do not have much to offer, particularly when money and material resources are in short supply or non-existent. However, giving is not just about tangibles, as we may have been socialized to believe.
In fact, the intangibles—some of which are part of the fruit of the Spirit, namely love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, as highlighted in Galatians 5:22-23—can transform lives and societies when meaningfully extended and applied.
Sharing from even our smallest resources, whether minuscule or abundant, is an essential part of our Christian duty and a significant investment that guarantees positive dividends, not just for ourselves but for others. The widow of Zarephath, who used her last bit of oil and flour to make a cake for the prophet Elijah at the expense of her own and her son’s well-being, experienced a generous reward. Almighty God richly compensated her for her selflessness and sacrifice, as recorded in 1 Kings 17:7-16.
Sharing and caring also reflect the inherent bond that unites us as members of the human family, irrespective of race, class, or creed. In this regard, the African proverb “A person is a person because of other people” is quite instructive. This saying emphasizes the importance of fostering harmonious relationships and recognizing that as human beings, we are products of each other’s actions and decisions. Implicit in this reality is a commitment to building community by using our respective capacities and competencies to make a difference in our spheres of influence.
Christmas, therefore, in terms of its potency and beauty, is not just a seasonal observance but an everyday commitment. As another powerful African proverb reminds us, “There is no beauty but the beauty of action.”
My dear brothers and sisters across the Caribbean and the global arena, as we sing the songs, hymns, and carols of the Christmas season, and as we fellowship and celebrate with friends and family, let us keep in focus the real reason for the season. Let us remember the poor and dispossessed everywhere—those who are victims of war, prejudice, discrimination, unrighteousness, and injustice. Let us commit ourselves to acts of meaning, purpose, and beauty, making a difference in this world through the enablement of the Blessed Holy Spirit.
I close with the words of the Prince of Peace Himself, who was the epitome of sharing and caring:
“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
Fellow Barbadians at home and abroad, fellow Caribbeans, fellow Wesleyans regionally and globally, friends and partners of the Wesleyan Church—whether your temperature is hot or cold, or whether there is sunshine or rain in your “neck of the woods,” I wish you all a “Sonshine Christmas” on behalf of my immediate family, the General Board of Administration of the Wesleyan Holiness Church of the Caribbean, and the International Board of the Wesleyan Church.
Blessings!
Rev. Joel Cumberbatch
General Superintendent – The Wesleyan Holiness Church of the Caribbean
Chairman – The International Board of the Wesleyan Church
