Dear North American Division Family,

I want to extend to you, on behalf of my fellow directors and the entire family at the North American Division (NAD) office, our warmest Christmas greetings at the end of 2020. And what a year it has been! Who would have imagined when we started 2020 that we would end it this way?

We want to thank our pastors and educators for the tremendous work they have done in transitioning to virtual environments. What a feat that was: switching in almost an instant from face-to-face services to online services! We can't find the words to thank all of our media teams who have worked tirelessly. Without your efforts, this transition would not have been possible. We also want to thank our members who have been involved in more than 1,500 food pantries providing food to those in need, and the many community outreach activities that have taken place in the virtual space.

The coronavirus pandemic, economic recession, race unrest, and now political turmoil have converged to create a very unstable and stress-filled world. Any one of them alone could be catastrophic and destabilizing. But the four together? That had a huge impact. This is what we have experienced this year. The events in 2020 make this time of year even more special. When we reflect on the Gift of God, of His Son the Child Jesus, it is even more significant.

In thinking about the world He came to, it was no different than our world today. Humanity had been devastated by the virus of sin with no vaccine or cure. The political climate with the Roman government was at its lowest point. Racial tensions between Jews and Samaritans were at an all-time high. The economic gap between the haves and the have-nots had reached its breaking point. The spiritual heart of man was depressed. It was in this environment that God sent his Son as a baby to a hostile world. God is familiar with what we are going through. He has been here before and does His best work in these kinds of environments. God gives us the best of Himself, in the worst moments.

Jesus was the best, the most expensive, the most valuable and precious gift that God had in the entire universe. God said: Let me give you my Son to show you My love. "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son" [John 3:16]. He really gave it to the human race, not only to come and die, but He gave it to us forever! Christ is to retain His humanity forever. He gave us this gift when we were at our worst. Even if we were at our best the cost is inestimable, but we were at our worst!

The good news in 2020, in the midst of the pandemic, economic challenges, racial unrest, political strife, is that the Gift is still ours. So I invite you this moment, for this season, to move your focus away from all the confusion of life in this world and take some time to meditate on this glorious Gift. Reflect on this precious Gift that we have in the only begotten Son of God. Come, let us adore. Come, let us adore. Come, let us adore Christ the Lord. This is not just the "Reason for the Season," it is the good news for 2020. God bless you!

- This is a transcript and translation of the 2020 end of year greeting from G. Alexander Bryant, president of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in North America.

This article was originally published on the North American Division’s news site