Estimated Read Time: 2 minutes
This year-end reflection invites ministry leaders to pause and remember why the work of protection matters. Drawing from Psalm 91, it highlights how safety, preparedness, and care are expressions of love—both for God and for the communities we serve. As risks continue to evolve, this piece encourages leaders to lean into trust, strengthen their teams, and step into the new year grounded in God’s promise of shelter and presence. There’s something about Psalm 91 that settles the heart. These words don’t come from someone sitting comfortably on the sidelines—they come from someone who knew danger, uncertainty, and the sharp edges of life…and still chose trust.“Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.”
This verse is powerful. Not because everything around us is calm, but because—just like the Psalmist—we are people in a world that can feel unpredictable. Pastors, teachers, safety officers, volunteers, camp leaders, risk managers and everyone who carries responsibility for others—you know exactly what it means to stand in that space between danger and protection.
Psalm 91 goes on to paint this rich picture of God’s care: a refuge, a shadow, a fortress, wings that cover, feathers that comfort, and a rampart—a protective wall built with intention. This harkens to the work so many of you do day after day. Building systems. Strengthening plans. Watching over the vulnerable.
Jesus teaches that love for God is always tied to love for others. The two grow together—one feeding the other. That’s why safety work, risk management, and preparedness aren’t just administrative tasks. They’re ministries of love. They’re ways we say to God and to His people, “Your life matters enough for me to be intentional about your well-being.”
We’re living in a time where risks are changing quickly—weather patterns growing more severe, violence touching places once thought safe, mental health challenges rising, and ministries facing new complexities all the time. And yet, God has placed people like you exactly where you are.
And this is why Adventist Risk Management exists—not to raise fear, but to strengthen courage. Not to overwhelm, but to walk alongside you with resources, training, guidance, and a community of people who care about this ministry as deeply as you do.
As we move from 2025 into 2026, let us embrace and champion that sense of community. Share what you know. Ask for help when you need it. Build teams. Equip new leaders. Look out for the vulnerable. And remember that your work is part of a much bigger picture.
Your work matters. Your commitment matters. The way you show up for your community is seen by God, and it’s shaping lives more than you may realize. May you carry that confidence into the year ahead. May you dwell in His shelter, rest in His shadow, and continue serving with the same love that has brought you this far.
Here’s to a new year grounded in faith, strengthened by community, and anchored in God’s promise to be with us every step of the way.
