Messengers of Peace, Praise the Lord!

Grace and peace to you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ!

It is with joy and deep gratitude that I welcome you to this month’s edition of our MOP magazine. As we continue our journey together as Messengers of Peace, I am excited to share the vision and heartbeat behind our theme for this year: “ROOTED.”

In June 2024, the Lord strongly placed it on my heart to lead the Messengers of Peace back to the secret place—Matthew 6:6. As we united in prayer for the final 26 weeks of 2024, the Lord began to shape and stir our hearts with one clear word: “ROOTED.”

Our guiding scripture comes from Colossians 2:6–8, where Paul reminds the believers to walk in Christ—“rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith.” In a world full of shifting values, loud opinions, and spiritual distractions, we must be grounded in truth. And not just any truth—but the truth that is in Jesus Christ.

To be rooted means to be anchored deeply, drawing our strength, direction, and identity from the One who never changes. It is easy in our youth to be swayed by trends, discouraged by setbacks, or confused by competing voices. But when we are rooted in Christ, we stand firm. We grow. We bear fruit. We remain.

Throughout this year, through devotionals, testimonies, and insights from our fellow youth leaders, we will explore what it means to live lives built up in Christ—to grow in faith, to stand against deception, and to overflow with thanksgiving. My prayer is that every page of this magazine encourages you to go deeper, dig your roots into the soil of God’s Word, and live boldly as a follower of Christ.

Let’s stay grounded. Let’s stay growing. Let’s stay ROOTED.

With love and peace,
Pastor Alex Cordoba
President, National Messengers of Peace

Testimonies are powerful. They allow us to witness how the hand of the Lord has been present and active in our lives. A testimony is the act of sharing personal experiences, encounters, and reflections of God’s faithfulness. In earlier times, believers would rise in the congregation to testify of what the Lord had done—bringing hope to the hopeless and stirring faith in those who listened. These moments reminded us of the mighty God we serve.

Our National Messengers of Peace President, Alex Cordoba, along with the board, has cast a vision: ROOTED– “Built Up in Him and Established in the Faith”. In a world overwhelmed by chaos, confusion, and fear, staying grounded in biblical truth and led by the Holy Spirit is more essential than ever. Though the world speaks of destruction, by the power of His Spirit, we overcome—and we remain Rooted in Him.

We are excited to present this issue of The Messenger, titled “Rooted Testimonies: Where Deep Roots Bear Living Witness.” In these articles, young people from across our nation share how they have remained grounded in Christ amidst life’s challenges. These stories are real and full of God’s transforming power. It is our hope that this issue will inspire every reader to grow deeper in faith, to be the Church, and to remain steadfast in Christ.

Each article tells a unique story—powerful encounters with God that have shaped and strengthened these young lives. If you are a leader, we pray these testimonies offer insight into the realities today’s youth face and inspire you to walk alongside them in faith. If you are not a leader, this issue is still for you. These testimonies speak to every Messenger of Peace, reminding us all that God is at work, and that His Spirit continues to move among us.

As you read these articles, may you reflect, learn, and be encouraged in your own walk with the Lord. Let these testimonies challenge you to remain steadfast, unshaken, and deeply rooted in Him.

Together, just like them, we can stay Rooted.

Joel Orellana
Editor-In-Chief, The Messenger Magazine