On behalf of the faculty and administrative staff of Zinzendorf School of Doctoral Studies, I wish all who view this site a joyous Christmas. This is the second consecutive Christmas that is being disrupted by the corona virus pandemic.

Christians can experience it as a reminder that this world is not as God originally created it. That is why He came to earth as a baby to experience life as we do, sin apart. Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus, knowing that it is not the babe in the manger, but the Christ on the cross and resurrected from the tomb that is the unsurpassable gift of God --the gift of eternal life for all who believe and which no pandemic or other calamity can take from us.

As we exchange gifts with our loved ones, let thanksgiving for God's gift be uppermost. We should also be thankful that God has enabled gifted people to detect the invisible virus and develop vaccines to prevent or mitigate its threat. As these vaccines are distributed much more throughout the world, and accepted by all of those who are eligible for them, we can have a realistic hope that Christmas next year will be more like those in earlier years. However, as we see so many rejecting vaccines even when available, preferring to risk the consequences of so deadly a disease, it reminds us that so many also reject the "Good News and Great Joy" that the angels announced at Jesus' birth despite the resulting punishment for unbelief. Even as government leaders and medical professionals seek to persuade people to accept the gift of vaccination, we of the Zinzendorf community seek to enhance the varying skills of ministers to persuade people everywhere to accept the gift of salvation.

May we persevere in our calling despite discouragement, even as God perseveres in bringing all who believe in Jesus ultimately to glory.