LETTER FROM THE SENIOR PASTOR

Rev. Dr. Emmett S. Young, III

Senior Pastor, Gethsemane Baptist Church

To my beloved GBC family,

            2025 is closing out, 2026 is upon us and God has been faithful through it all! I wish you grace, mercy and peace from God our creator, redeemer and sustainer. As the year of 2026 comes in, we welcome it with a new church-wide theme: “All In: Building Up the Kingdom of God through Evangelism, Discipleship and Stewardship”. Acts 9:31 still has our attention as an anchor scripture for this ideal. Being “All In” means that we are being sustained by the power of God as a family of faith determined to live out the truth and principles of God’s word as we reach out to build up His kingdom. This is done by being good stewards of that which God has given us, being discipled in the way and example of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and reaching out to others in various ways to tell the truth of God’s love and salvation.

            As we started 2025, we did so with a church-wide fast, based upon the Daniel Fast in the bible. The Daniel Fast follows the example of the prophet Daniel, who sought God with humility, focus, and unwavering commitment (Daniel 10:2–3). Daniel’s fast was not motivated by ritual but by a longing to understand God’s will. His intentional separation from food and distractions positioned him to receive divine revelation. In this same spirit, we offer ourselves to God over these 21 days — presenting our minds, bodies, and spirits to be shaped by His presence.

            As we embrace our 2026 theme together GBC, we commit ourselves fully to God’s calling. This year’s devotionals were written by one of very own members, Rev. Dr. Unnia Pettus, and she has sought the Lord again for this year’s devotionals that guide us each and every day. They are a wonderful blessing and testament that will help center us as we seek the Lord.          This Devotional is designed to guide our congregation through scripture, reflection, and intentional prayer. Each day highlights a biblical figure whose life models the themes that shape our mission: being All In, strengthening our Family of Faith, Building Up the Kingdom of God, practicing Evangelism, walking in Discipleship, and living as faithful Stewards of God’s gifts.

            As with last year, Our fast is a 21-day fast, starting at 6:00 a.m., Friday, January 2, 2026, and ending 6 p.m., Thursday, January 22, 2026. We will end the fast together with a “Break The Fast Communion Fellowship” at 7:00 p.m. on Zoom. You can access the Zoom link information on the church’s website at www.gbcwdc.org.

            GBC, I’m so very excited about how the Lord is going to move among us as we set ourselves before him in sacrifice through food, financially, and technologically. By giving these things over to God, denying ourselves, and seeking His face, we put ourselves in the integral position of trusting in Him and finding His direction for us as a body of believers. I pray that God will minister to you in mighty ways and that we will all be on one accord as we prepare ourselves as a family of faith. May God richly bless and keep you as we go, “All In!”

For Christ,

Rev. Dr. Emmett S. Young, III

Senior Pastor

Background

The story of the 21-day fast originates in Daniel 10, where Daniel mourned, prayed, and abstained from pleasant foods to seek spiritual understanding. Daniel was living in Babylonian exile — a foreign land with foreign gods — yet he remained steadfast in faith. His fast was not a physical diet but a spiritual pursuit. Daniel sought clarity about a vision God had given him, and his persistence in prayer demonstrated total dependence on God.

An angel later revealed that Daniel’s prayers were heard from the first day, but spiritual resistance delayed the manifestation (Daniel 10:12-13). This passage reminds us that unseen battles often surround our answered prayers. Fasting strengthens us during delays and anchors us in God’s timing. Daniel’s perseverance teaches us that a breakthrough is not always immediate, but God honors those who seek Him diligently.

Today, the Daniel Fast is used by believers seeking renewal, breakthrough, and deeper intimacy with the Lord. The traditional fast includes consuming only fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and water. More importantly, it requires a posture of humility, surrender, and intentional focus on God. At Gethsemane, we unite in this fast not out of obligation but out of expectation — believing God will meet us, mold us, and multiply His work through us.

Application for Today

The “Daniel Fast” is often used as a model for modern fasting. It typically involves 21 days of consuming only fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and water, mirroring Daniel’s self-denial of rich foods. The purpose is not just dietary but spiritual—to focus on prayer, humility, and seeking God. This 21-day fast in Daniel 10 encourages believers to deepen their connection with God, persist in prayer, and trust that God is at work, even in unseen realms.

Food - 21-Day Fasting – abstaining from food from the hours of 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and when eating, you follow the prescribed foods from the “Daniel Fast” listed above. Note: Those with dietary restrictions and/or medical issues can adjust fast accordingly. Please see the attached “Daniel Fast Food List.” For more information on foods accepted and to be abstained from. The book resource for the 21-Day Food Fast is “The Ultimate Guide to the Daniel Fast” by Kristen Feola, or the website, https:/ultimatedanielfast.com.

Financial – 21-day Fasting – abstaining from extra purchases and shopping for items wanted, not needed. This fast focuses on watching how you spend your money and challenging the adherent to abstain from spending as a form of therapy/happiness. The focus is also on God supplying all your needs.

Technological – 21-day Fasting – abstaining from all forms of technological media between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., which includes social media sites (YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, X, Threads, Snapchat, Pinterest, Reddit, etc.). There are too many to name! This also includes abstaining from internet sites (political and social), television, streaming, etc. The goal of this fast is to block out all extra “noise” in our work and social spaces, focusing on God's voice.

Please pick one option for fasting, or a combination (ex, food and technology). But we are asking all members of Gethsemane Baptist Church to participate. Start small and work your way through this. And remember, you are not alone. We are fasting and seeking the Lord together as a church body.

 During the 21 days, we will engage in a Corporate Prayer call via Zoom at 7:00 a.m., led by Pastor Young. We will also continue our Tuesday, “Grace in the Garden” Prayer Calls at 7:00 a.m., 12 Noon, and 7:00 p.m. On these Zoom calls, you can join and testify as to how the Lord is showing up in your fasting and dedication to Him. We love to hear how God is working in the lives of our members and community. See the prayer call information on the church’s website.