“But this is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel on that day,” says the Lord. “I will put my laws in their minds, and I will write them on their hearts. I will; be their God, and they will be my people. And they will not need to teach their neighbors, nor will they need to teach their family, saying, ‘You shall know the Lord.’ For everyone from the least to the greatest, will already know me,” says the Lord. “And I will forgive their wickedness and will never again remember their sins.” Jeremiah 31:33-34

This is the new covenant in the Old Testament. It’s prophetic because when it was written, it was yet to happen, and it’s couched in terms of the nation of Israel since that is the only story of the Old Testament. But all the major points are echoed by Paul in 2 Corinthians indicating this is not just a prophesy for Israel, but for God’s ultimate plan for His New Testament church. The primacy of relationship is here (“I will be their God and they will be my people”), and the law is no longer external, but written on the hearts and minds of His people (“I will put my laws in their minds, and I will write them on their hearts”), followed by the incredible grace and forgiveness of sins (“And I will forgive their wickedness and will never again remember their sins”). It’s all here, and it has all been fulfilled in Christ who ushered in the new covenant when he announced it at the last supper, “This is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” (1 Corinthians 11:25) It’s here and it’s now; and it’s for you, and it’s for me.

I often wonder, however, how I could have been born, born again, and raised in one of the major evangelical churches in the country, and gone for four years to a premiere Christian college, and yet it wasn’t until I was 23 years old that I even heard about the new covenant — the same new covenant that was predicted in the Old Testament, ushered in by Christ Himself the night before His death, and installed by Him as part of one of the major sacraments of the new church He established. How is that? And how is it that most Christians, if they’ve heard of the new covenant, don’t know what it is or what it’s for? And that means, most of them, therefore, are living the Christian life the best they can on their own. That’s exactly what I did for 23 years. By the way, hearing and learning about the new covenant — yes, even teaching it — doesn’t mean you are living it either. Living every day, relying on the Holy Spirit — everything from God and nothing from me — is not something we all automatically do. That is why we spend so much time on the new covenant here at the Catch, because we don’t know where else you will hear this or how often. It should be every day.

You have come to God, the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. Hebrews 12:23-24

A Unique Opportunity to Support a Rare Ministry

Please pray for our partner, Hope International Ministries. Under the leadership of Doug Stevens, friend of Catch Ministries and frequent guest on our podcast, HIM is hosting a retreat for pastors and their families—men and women who continue to serve their communities with incredible courage and sacrifice in the Ukraine war zone. Last year’s retreat near Odessa, on the shores of the Black Sea, was a time when these pastors shared stories of staying when they could have fled and of shepherding others while bearing their own grief. It was both inspiring and heartbreaking, which is why Doug left feeling deeply moved and convinced he had to go back.

We want to help raise funds to support the costs of over 100 Ukrainian pastors and their families attending this retreat again this year in the end of June. It will be a week of rest, healing, and spiritual renewal—an oasis in the chaos. For many, it’s the only break they’ll have all year. It’s not just a retreat; it’s a lifeline.

We’re also helping support the launch of two trauma healing centers—one in Kharkiv, just 25 miles from the Russian border, which focuses on families living in the shadow of war, and another in Kyiv, aimed at helping wounded veterans and military widows find healing and hope. These centers will be operated by local therapists, pastors, and social workers who are already engaged in this sacred work.

Doug is traveling with other pastors and laypeople to Ukraine at their own expense, ensuring that every dollar donated goes directly to the families attending the retreat and to the trauma centers on the frontlines of healing.

The overall goal is to raise $50,000 (of which $30,000 has been raised so far). Whether you contribute a little or a lot, you are stepping into the narrative of resilience, love, and Jesus’ unshakable hope amid suffering.

Doug wants to thank you in advance for your kindness and prayers.

Let’s do this together!

To contribute, click here, and write “For Ukraine” on the memo. This is a unique and vital ministry and a rare opportunity to get help to where it can do so much good. Let’s send Doug and Hope International Ministries a generous gift on behalf of Catch Ministries.

To learn about last year’s retreat, click here.