The Emmanuel International Jubilee year!

Emmanuel International, as an international organisation, was registered in Canada on 11 September 1975. On 12 September 2024 we are ushering in its 50^th year of recognized existence. Our 50^th year, our Jubilee year!

Jubilee! In the Bible, the Jubilee year was designated for the 50^th year after 7 cycles of
7 years, following the end of the 7^th sabbath year. The Jubilee year was a year of
acknowledging Sovereign God, His grace, His provision, His heart for His people. It was a reset year, a year when slaves were to be freed, when property was to go back to its original owner, when debts were to be forgiven. It was to be a year of rest and freedom… a reset year. The heart of this Jubilee year was a demonstration of God’s heart for compassion, an unparalleled expression of goodness and care for His people, surpassed only through the gift of His son, Jesus. Can you imagine the joy, the relief that the Jubilee year would have been to people whose lives had been battered by poverty and loss, who felt trapped in an endless cycle of need? For those giving back, can you imagine the challenge of giving up possessions and slaves? The Jubilee year required that people in poverty would trust God to provide. And it required the rich to trust that treating people in obedience to God’s way would in turn be best for themselves.

Trusting and obeying a just and generous God with thanksgiving. That is the heart of the Jubilee year. Looking back and looking forward.

Emmanuel International, this is OUR year of Jubilee. This is our opportunity to praise God with all our hearts, souls, strength and minds. With Samuel of old, on the 12^th of September, 2024, let us raise our Ebenezer, for truly, “hitherto has the LORD helped us.”