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Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you. 

1 Peter 1:3-4

After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands.

Revelation 7:9 (ESV)

Why do we celebrate? 

We celebrate birthdays and graduations, anniversaries, and babies. We commemorate milestones and joys and accomplishments. We put up decorations and share stories with family and friends who surround us in these moments. We celebrate to remember, to mark the moments we share with those we love. 

On Easter, we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who is our Living Hope. We joyfully acknowledge the hope that will never perish, spoil, or fade. 

And this hope is global—not bound by borders or language! As the book of Revelation says, this hope is for people from all nations and tribes. I have had the privilege of traveling to different countries and seeing how they celebrate hope in Christ. Some play drums and dance, some cook feasts of amazing food, some gather in the streets with their community, and some do all three! Each place creates a unique representation of the same hope. Some are loud and joyous, while others are soft and reflective, but each is an honest expression of hope in their lives. 

How can you celebrate this living hope today? Reading or sharing the stories of Christ from the Bible? Celebrating in community with family and friends, perhaps over a meal with good food and laughter and joy?

Next Steps

• We welcome Ron Bueno, our partner from El Salvador, who will share more about hope.
• Visit Willow’s Celebration of Hope (COH) website to learn about some of our Global Partners.