Hugs were allowed, we had a proper Christmas, and restriction-free gigs, sporting events, and weddings resumed.

But whilst it wasn’t Covid-19 dominating our news channels this year, there were plenty of other history-worthy events that left us feeling more than a little bewildered. From our nation’s identity crisis when the Queen passed to getting through three PMs, from eye-watering energy prices to strikes galore. It’s been quite the ride.

According to the YouVersion Bible App, the most popular verse among global users in 2022 was Isaiah 41:10: ‘So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.’

If this is the verse we’ve been sharing, bookmarking, and highlighting the most, it seems we’re still acutely aware of our need for God’s strength to equip us on our frontlines, wherever they may be. However you’re feeling as the year draws to a close, we can take courage that God is present in our lives and the world around us.

With every twist and turn, LICC’s Connecting with Culture has tackled the topics we’ve all had on our minds, each time offering a biblical perspective on how we can live as Christians in our increasingly challenging world, and helping us engage with what’s on our screens, pages, and playlists.

So, as we look back on another trip around the sun, here are five articles that sum up where we’ve been – and will, we pray, inspire and spur you on as you seek to live out your faith on your frontline in 2023.

In his poignant article, Joshua T. Searle of Dnipro Hope Mission shared testimonies of ordinary Ukrainian Christians doing extraordinary things to support their local, war-torn communities.

Challenging us to consider what we can do on our own frontlines, he wrote: ‘Although we might not find ourselves literally on the frontline in Ukraine, all of us are still called to join in God’s mission to transform the world into the image of his kingdom.’

Self-confessed Love Island superfan Annie Adams explored how its contestants embark ‘on a journey from comparison to commitment’, mirroring glimpses of God’s faithful and forgiving heart towards us as they learn to extend and receive grace and forgiveness to each other. How can we do the same amongst those we encounter on our frontlines?

In his obituary (our most-read article of the year) Mark Greene paid tribute to her devotion to God on her very public frontline. He wrote: ‘The Queen was “gracious” and “noble” and “victorious” in the things that really matter – hope and faith in Christ, love of God and of the people she’s been empowered to serve.’ May we follow her example as we interact with the people God has placed us alongside, right where we are.

But in her words, ‘hospitality is a profound and practical demonstration of how things work in the kingdom of God.’

As well as combatting loneliness, hospitality is becoming crucial for many amidst the cost-of-living crisis. With a third of UK households facing fuel poverty this winter, how can our hospitality help meet basic needs for food, warmth, and community of those on our frontlines? Perhaps it’s sharing your oven with neighbours, inviting a student to work at your house if you’ve got the heating on, or offering to do laundry for a young family you know are struggling to make ends meet.

In October, our CEO Paul Woolley reflected on the political turbulence of the last 12 months, helping us shape our own response. He encouraged us to consider how we can engage in redemptive action on our frontlines, whilst praying for God’s perfect kingdom to come, here on earth as it is in heaven.

‘We should not be fearful… Ultimately, our significance and security are located in the God who has created us and revealed himself to us in Jesus Christ.’

As we head into 2023, may we carry this hope with confidence to those on our frontlines.

Happy new year!

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Grace Fielding 
Supporter Communications Manager