As the clock struck midnight on January 1, 2026, Pastor Lazarus Muoka delivered a profound spiritual address, framing the New Year not as a mere calendar change but as a divine summons. In a message titled "New Year, new beginning," shared in the early hours of 3 January 2026 at 2:11am WAT, the cleric presented the turning of the year as a sacred opportunity gifted by God.
God: The Ultimate Source of Fresh Starts
Pastor Muoka anchored his sermon in the foundational truth that God is the author of all new beginnings. He pointed to the opening verse of the Bible, Genesis 1:1, which establishes God's nature as an initiator. From creating order from chaos to offering humanity salvation through Jesus Christ, God's character is consistently one of restoration and renewal.
The message highlighted several biblical examples where God orchestrated fresh starts: giving Noah and the earth a new beginning after the flood, leading Israel from slavery to the Promised Land, and repeatedly restoring His people after exile. "This reminds us that no matter how our last year ended, God is still in the business of beginnings," Pastor Muoka declared, emphasizing that past failure, pain, or delay does not disqualify anyone from God's renewing power.
Releasing the Past to Embrace the Future
A significant portion of the address focused on the necessity of letting go of past burdens to fully step into a new season. Quoting Isaiah 43:18, "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past," Pastor Muoka clarified that this is not an call to erase history but a command to refuse being imprisoned by it.
He identified common burdens that people carry into a new year: regrets, guilt, relational pain, and fear born from past disappointments. Holding tightly to the past can block the future God intends, he warned. The spiritual battle, as he described it, is between an enemy who wants believers to relive failure and a God who offers forgiveness and healing. A genuine new beginning requires a conscious release of what was to receive what God has prepared.
Discerning and Stepping into God's New Thing
Pastor Muoka urged the congregation to develop spiritual perception, referencing Isaiah 43:19 where God says, "See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?" He noted that God's new beginnings often appear in unexpected forms—such as a closed door, a season of waiting, or a challenging call to spiritual growth.
Faith and repentance are non-negotiable requirements for this journey. Citing 2 Corinthians 5:7, he explained that every new beginning demands faith to trust God with the unknown, just as the Israelites stepped into the Jordan River before it parted. Furthermore, he linked new beginnings to God's mercies, which are "new every morning" (Lamentations 3:22–23). Repentance, framed as a restorative act of turning the heart back to God, is the gateway to cleansing and redirection.
A Collective Call to Purposeful Living
The message expanded beyond personal renewal to encompass collective and purposeful living. Quoting Ephesians 2:10, Pastor Muoka reminded believers that they are God's intentional workmanship, created for good works. The New Year presents a chance to rediscover this divine purpose, which may manifest as a call to serve more faithfully, forgive more deeply, or lead more boldly.
He also provided a crucial realism, stating that a new beginning does not guarantee a trouble-free life. Referencing John 16:33, he acknowledged that challenges are part of the human experience, but their presence does not mean God's absence. These seasons can be used by God for pruning, refining, and strengthening character.
Finally, Pastor Muoka called the church to a shared new beginning marked by unity, love, and mutual support. He encouraged commitments to prayer, encouragement, and service within the community. Concluding with the promise from Revelation 21:5—"Behold, I am making all things new"—he invited everyone to step into 2026 with hope, faith, obedience, and great expectation for what God will do.
