Special Issue 2025: Summary

This special issue emphasizes the importance of faith, hope, love, and active engagement in personal spiritual growth and community support.

Undoubtedly, mutual and continuous encouragement of one another is essential to our spiritual health and well-being. Without encouraging words, deeds and actions, our spiritual life will be one of greater difficulty and challenge. Fortunately, such encouragement can be found all around us—helping us, strengthening us, supporting our spiritual growth, and allowing us to apply Biblical principles in our daily lives. As described by the articles in this special issue, encouragement emphasizes the importance of community (i.e., being with like-minded individuals), the power of words, the value of music, and the need for a global perspective on faith. Let us not forget the importance of faith, hope, and love in navigating the challenges of life and preparing for the return of our Lord Jesus Christ.

As illustrated by the wide variety of articles, support can come from multiple sources, including music and exhortations. Music, for example, can touch hearts and hearten both the singers and listeners alike. As instructed by Scripture, exhortations are to deliver words of comfort. As brothers and sisters in Christ, we are to provide encouragement one to another, and focus our attention on the fainthearted—not just to those within our community, but to all God’s children.

Here are three key themes addressed in this special issue:

• Spiritual Encouragement and Mindfulness: This should focus on the importance of being mindful, appreciating the little things in life, and finding spiritual stimulus in everyday moments. We should remember when we struggle to turn to Scripture for guidance, find solace through prayer, and recognize God’s presence in creation and everyday human interaction. Finally, we should be mindful and appreciate God’s creation while taking time to notice the acts of kindness and beauty we see all around us daily. All of this can encourage, if we only take a moment to notice.
• Encouraging One Another in the Community: The ecclesia, the community of God, is a spiritual construct designed to provide support. It is a place where we should seek to give and receive encouragement. According to Scripture, we are to “stir up love and good works, not forsaking assembling together, and exhorting one another.” Within the community, music plays a major role; so does sharing experiences, and mutual support is provided to strengthen faith and the bonds of Truth.
• Biblical Reflection and Application: This special issue also provides insight into select Biblical passages and stories, drawing lessons and applying them to our contemporary life. Themes of faith, hope, perseverance, and the return of Christ are all explored. Numerous Biblical examples illustrate overcoming challenges, finding strength in God’s word, and living a life aligned with Christian principles. For example, David’s reliance on God’s Word during times of persecution, and the promise of a Messiah and the importance of being prepared for Christ’s return. These can all foster our faith.

By diving in more deeply, one can break these themes into the following seven main topics:

• Encouragement and Support: The importance of encouraging one another cannot be overemphasized, especially to the fainthearted and those going through difficult times. As those who need help and those who provide that assistance, we all must remember that our words can either build up or tear down. We must practice patience, compassion, and provide practical help and scriptural guidance throughout the community. This is our duty, for Christ and our Heavenly Father do the same for us.
• Spiritual Growth and Mindfulness: Encouragement isn’t just something we should receive, but also something we should actively seek. Prayer, meditation, and studying the Bible can all inspire us. Additionally, we should be mindful of God’s presence in everyday moments—God’s creation is all around us and it too should uplift us. We should appreciate the beauty of creation, and find spiritual inspiration in all the “little things” (e.g., the fact that the sun always rises in the morning and always sets in the evening) God continues to bless us with.
• Applying Biblical Principles: The application of Scripture is clear and stimulating. Scriptures guide all important aspects of life, including relationships, priority, and service to others. Scripture motivates us to align our actions with our faith and to live lives that reflect Christ’s love and compassion; let us remember that putting on the Fruit of the Spirit is a continuous effort.
• Community and Fellowship: We should not forget that assembling together is instructed in Scripture. So is supporting one another, and recognizing the global nature of the believers of Christ. Let us not forget that the time we spend together is crucial for us; attending the Memorial Service and Sunday School should be done in a regular rhythm—one that refreshes and refocuses us on spiritual matters of importance. While, in many ways, meeting virtually has been a blessing, nothing replaces physical human interaction. Additionally, we can take heart by visiting ecclesias near and far, engaging in mission work and supporting refugees. These are just a few things we can do to build up and receive encouragement.
• Exhortation and Preaching: Exhortations play an important role in our spiritual life. Fundamentally, they are meant to encourage. As a result, it is important to select an appropriate topic—one that can stimulate hope and comfort, and has a deeper meaning beyond a simple Bible class. Exhortations are to be profitable to both the speaker and the audience, addressing the challenges we face, such as financial concerns, job security, health issues, school-related stress, and bereavement. The goal is to uplift and support one another. Additionally, our exhortations must prepare the congregation to memorialize Jesus when partaking of the emblems during the Memorial Service.
• Music and Worship: Music should also play a major and energizing role in our life. Music uplifts spirits, brings people together, and enhances worship. Music is not just a form of entertainment but a vital element of worship, fellowship, and spiritual growth. Scripture discusses the role of music and music’s ability to help people learn and connect with God on a deeper level. Music isn’t just to lift up our voices to our Heavenly Father, but also a practice that should provide direct reassurance to those who are singing. Choral programs, for example, are about coming together to make a joyful noise unto the LORD, and everyone has a voice worth sharing.
• The Return of Christ: Finally, we are reminded throughout Scripture of the promise of the Messiah—the good news of the Kingdom of God. The signs of the times, for example, particularly the return of the Jews to the land of Israel, are a demonstration of Christ’s imminent return. These facts should encourage us and reassure us that God’s Will will be done on earth as it is done in heaven. These assurances can carry us through any difficulties we might encounter as we patiently wait for our Lord’s return, for there is no doubt that he will return.

In essence, this special issue offers a multifaceted perspective on Christian living, emphasizing the importance of faith, hope, love, and active engagement in personal spiritual growth and community support. We hope and pray this special issue motivates readers to live intentionally, guided by Biblical principles, to be a source of encouragement and support to those around them.

Furthermore, they suggest spending time together socially, keeping the Truth at the center, building one another up, and reinforcing our commitment to following the Lord. The importance of spending time together in fellowship cannot be overstated. Of faith, hope and love, we are taught the greatest of these is love. What could be more loving than to support others as we walk together towards the Kingdom?

Finally, let us remember that encouragement is a mutual obligation. We are all asked to bear one another’s burdens. Let’s take instruction from our LORD God daily, and let us provide encouragement to all those around us. This will not only strengthen us, but it will strengthen others as well.

Peter Bilello,
Special Issue Editor,
Ann Arbor Ecclesia, MI