Time to be bold
For several consecutive years, we have encouraged and challenged our youth to overcome fear and anxiety when sharing God’s message from the pulpit. I’ve worked closely with them in prayer and offered brief homiletic guidance along the way. I even confessed to them that, by nature, I’m a shy person who would much rather avoid public speaking—something they found ironic, considering my current calling in ministry. I reminded them that preparing and sharing a message from God is a journey. When we do all we can to prepare humanly, the most vital part remains: humbly depending on the Holy Spirit to grant us boldness. God honors our commitment to obey His calling, and He accompanies that obedience with divine power—power that enables us to speak boldly.
Elder Erton C. Köhler, our new General Conference President, recently spoke on this very need for boldness. In his first sermon following his election at the General Conference Session in St. Louis, Missouri, he emphasized the importance of praying for boldness in the face of the many challenges our church faces in reaching the world with the gospel.
He referenced the example of Peter, John, and the early believers who, after Jesus’ ascension, prayed not for safety or comfort—but for boldness: “And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness” (Acts 4:29). And look at how God answered their prayer: “And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness” (Acts 4:31).
Ellen G. White also affirmed this boldness that comes from walking closely with Christ: “If we walk in the light as Christ is in the light, we may come to the throne of grace with holy boldness” (Signs of the Times, May 15, 1884). In these times of uncertainty and shifting values, it is not a time for hesitation. It is time to be bold—in our faith, in our witness, and in our calling to share God’s truth with the world.
Pastor Limuel Liwanag
