Mary receives God’s astonishing call and responds with faithful surrender: “I am the Lord’s servant.” Her “yes” reveals both God’s grace and the disciple’s response. As we celebrate the Incarnation, we’re invited to hear God’s call and answer with our own courageous “yes.”

In this lecture, Gordon T. Smith explores what it means to cultivate resilient hope in a world marked by anxiety, suffering, and uncertainty. Rejecting both toxic positivity and despair, he reflects on hope as an essential Christian practice—one that sustains individuals and equips communities to encourage others with wisdom, honesty, and courage.

Gordon T. Smith reflects on how the Church can thrive in a secular age. Drawing on Scripture and his book Wisdom From Babylon, he explores whether post-Christian culture is a threat—or an opportunity—for faithful and wise Christian leadership.

This article argues that while Easter is central to Christian faith, the Ascension of Christ should be seen as the defining moment of the church’s life and worship. It explores how the Ascended Christ shapes worship, mission, and daily life, with Pentecost enabling believers to live in this reality.