Advent 2025: A message from the territorial leaders

• Download video from Vimeo

Territorial Leaders Commissioners Jenine and Paul Main encourage us to receive and share God's love this Advent.

Jenine As the year draws to a close, we find ourselves reflecting on what truly matters. There’s a song from the musical Rent that asks, how do you measure a year? Is it in 525,600 minutes? Or is it in daylights, sunsets, midnights or cups of coffee? Or how about love? 

Paul That’s a powerful question during the season of Advent as we consider God’s gift of love coming down to Earth. In the book of Jeremiah, God says: ‘I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness’ (Jeremiah 31:3). This everlasting love is clearly seen in Jesus Christ. As John writes: ‘God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him’ (1 John 4:9 New Living Translation). 

Jenine God’s love isn’t fleeting or conditional. It’s unchanging and doesn’t depend on our performance or fade with our failures. It pursues us, drawing us in with kindness. It has no beginning and no end. Always inviting, always present. 

Paul Christmas is the ultimate expression of God’s everlasting love revealed in Jesus Christ. In the quiet humility of the manger, Heaven touched Earth. Divine love became flesh and dwelt among us, not distant or reserved for a select few, but a love that reaches into every heart, every home and every circumstance. 

Jenine This love heals, restores and redeems. When love came down in Jesus, it brought light into our darkness, hope into our despair and peace into our chaos. 

Paul Many of us are aware of people around us who are struggling. Family members, friends, people in our communities. It can feel overwhelming and we may wonder what we can do. As we visit Salvation Army centres across the UK and Ireland, we are continually reminded of the difference love makes. A listening ear, a safe space, the gift of time, practical support or the smallest act of kindness bringing hope. 

Jenine The gratitude in the eyes of those helped reminds us that love isn’t about grand gestures. It’s about being present, noticing those around us and letting God’s everlasting love, shown in Jesus, flow through us in practical ways. 

Paul So let’s not measure Christmas in presents or parties, but in love. Love received and love shared. Christmas is God’s declaration through Jesus Christ that you are wanted, cherished and drawn close by his kindness. ‘For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life’ (John 3:16 King James Version). 

Jenine Maybe there’s someone in your life who needs a word of encouragement, a phone call or a text to know they’re not alone. Maybe you’re the one who needs to receive that love. The beauty of Christmas is that God’s love in Jesus is for each of us right where we are. 

Paul As the song says, measure your life in love. Christmas shows us what that love truly looks like. Not just a feeling, but a gift freely given. A presence that comforts. A light that shines in the darkness. This is the love that came down for you, for me, for everyone in Jesus Christ. 

Jenine During the season of Advent, don’t just read about the story. Become part of it. Say yes to God’s love and bring hope and light to those around you. Let’s choose to be the answer to someone’s prayer for love this Christmas. Measure this season in love and let God’s everlasting love, revealed in Jesus Christ, flow through you.