Hands at Work begins each year with a Watchword; a guiding scripture that our leadership team shares with the Hands family. This scripture is a promise, a challenge, an inspiration, an encouragement and an opportunity to invite God to lead us throughout the year, expectant for what He will do in and through us.
The 2023 Watchword comes from Luke 4:18 (NIV): “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free”
Several Hands at Work volunteers reflect on how the Watchword has impacted them:
Peter Hagemann (Hands at Work, Germany)
“I ‘saw’ the Watchword before (almost) anybody else: In the German Lutheran Church there is a recommended Bible reading for every Sunday, both from the Old and the New Testament. The New Testament reading on the 1st of January 2023 was Luke 4:16-21, with the Hands at Work Watchword 2023 in the centre of the text. On that Sunday at church, I saw the scene with Jesus and the crowd in my mind: Jesus read the short text from Isaiah, then he gave the scroll back to the attendant and sat down. And he just sat there. No sermon. No further explanation. “And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him.” They seemed to be expecting an explanation from Jesus. And he seemed to think that the text should be self-explanatory. But the people did not understand why Jesus read this text. So, he got up again and said one sentence that changes everything: “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” Today is the day to proclaim good news to the poor. Today is the day when the blind can see again. Today is the day to set the oppressed free. The kingdom of God becomes visible and real in this world with Jesus Christ. No more waiting. God is here today.”
Tanaziyo Betiel (Field Coordinator in Dedza, Malawi)
“For me, the Watchword has challenged me and it has come at a good time, especially when it says the Spirit of the Lord is upon me and anointed me to preach the good news, to set the oppressed free. Firstly, it means that, without Holy Spirit, we can do nothing. In the same way that Jesus was Spirit-filled and was able to set us free - we too can never accomplish the work we’re called to do without the Spirit’s empowering through His anointing. It’s like riding your bicycle without oil, it would be more difficult. Secondly, without the Holy Spirit, we wouldn’t be able to preach God’s good news and set our children and their Primary Caregivers free from spiritual oppression. Lastly, it’s made me more prayerful to ask God for His Spirit in order to serve our children, our communities, our Community Based Organisations and even to serve our families at home.”
Frank Letkeman (Hands at Work, Canada)
“I love the starting point of the Watchword - “The Spirit of the Lord is on me…”. It has to start with allowing the Spirit to work in me. From there, the three key words of anointed, sent, and proclaim stand out to me. The order is so important; the Spirit anoints me, I can then be sent, and ultimately, I proclaim the good news. I pray that this verse will truly guide me and all of us throughout 2023.”
Crystal Letkeman (Hands at Work, Canada)
“This year’s Watchword, while simple seeming in instruction, is deeply moving to me. I ask myself, “Is the Holy Spirit working in me? Do I put myself in a position to hear Him and then respond to Him?” For only when His Spirit is working in me, am I able to bring the Good News to the hurting people I live among.”
Ntombifuthi Mathonsi (Service Centre Coordinator in Lomahasha, Eswatini)
“For me, this year’s Watchword is a really big deal. If I could emphasise one single point, it’s where it’s written that the Spirit of the Lord is upon me. That’s a big reminder for me to check myself daily as to where the Spirit is leading me on that particular day. In essence, it is giving me direction, power and authority, despite my lack of resources for the task He is calling me to in that day. It encourages me to look beyond my circumstances and to trust in His Spirit for the work He is asking of me on that day.”
Lewis Lengwe (Service Centre Coordinator in Kabwe, Zambia)
“There are many things that stand out to me, but if I had to zero in on one or two things it would be from the very first sentence – “The Spirit of the Lord is on me.” This gives us a clear picture that there is a spirit that can be on a person. Jesus is telling us that the Spirit of the Lord was the Spirit that was on Him. When I heard this scripture it just reminded me that I need to be careful which spirit is influencing me because it might be another spirit that is not of the Lord. So, it is God’s Spirit that needs to take over our lives and influence us.
Whenever I have an opportunity to share this with anyone or our Care Workers, Primary Caregivers or our children, I’m reminded that in the beginning, our forefathers experienced a spiritual death. I like to highlight the fact that God is so concerned about our spiritual wellbeing, which is why He pours His Spirit on us to give us new life – the kind of life that He has created us for.”
Kupa Shapeta (Zimbabwe Regional Support Team Coordinator)
“I have many reflections for the Watchword, but I’ll mention just a few – maybe two.
Firstly, just the thought, the knowledge that I have Christ in me, and as long as I have Him, I have the Holy Spirit with me. And with that, the Spirit of the Lord is upon me as Kupa and I’ve been anointed to preach the good news to the poor and I’ve been anointed to bring liberty to the imprisoned and delivery to the oppressed. That gives me the confidence to stand when I go out into the communities, that I am not alone, I have Christ in me, I have the Holy Spirit within me and it’s just a matter of me knowing that fully. And with that confidence, I’m able to speak good news and pray for those who are spiritually blinded to see who God is and His goodness and to bring deliverance. Basically, everywhere I go, I should be bringing life in dead situations.
Secondly, it is me being continuously in God’s presence and connected to Christ, who is the vine, which is the only way I’m able to produce fruit. Am I creating that environment where I keep receiving nourishment through the word of God in my quiet time and prayer time with God, so that when I got out there I’m filled and equipped well? It’s not just a matter of having the Spirit of God upon me, but giving the Spirit of God something to work with. When Jesus read the scroll of Isaiah, He had come out of fasting and was filled with Holy Spirit. So personally, the challenge for me is to invest in my spirituality so that when I go out I can bring life into situations that I come across.”