Christmas Message to the MTN OPS Community - 2025

MTN OPS Family,

We want to wish you a very Merry Christmas. I reflect often on a dream I had many years ago. Some of you have heard me share this before, but it has stayed with me because of how clearly it taught me something simple and powerful.

In the dream, I found myself standing alone on a stage. Before me was a sea of faces. I did not know why I was there or what I was supposed to do. I looked around, confused, when suddenly a hand in the audience went up. With their hand and with their eyes, it was as if they were pleading with me not to look away.

Then another hand went up. And another. And another.

Each time a hand rose, my attention shifted. I felt pulled in every direction. I began scanning the crowd, desperately searching for my family. When I finally found them, all five of their hands were raised. With their hands and their eyes, they begged me not to look away.

But just as quickly, another hand went up. And I turned.

In that moment, I realized what was happening. I was standing on the stage of an auction. And I was the auctioneer. I was auctioning off my time and my attention, the most valuable gifts any of us can give in this life.

In the crowd were family, friends, coworkers, people from church, people from the community, and many strangers. All bidding. All asking. All wanted a portion of what I had to give.

I woke up from that dream the next morning, dropped to my knees, and prayed. I asked God what I was supposed to learn. What impressed upon my heart was this question. Where is your time and attention going, and are the most valuable bidders receiving the portion they deserve?

That dream has shaped how I try to live as a husband, a father, and a disciple of Jesus Christ. It has also shaped the way I think about this community. You matter deeply to us. You are the lifeblood of MTN OPS, and I hope you always feel seen, valued, and cared for.

I am reminded of one of the greatest Christmas gifts I have ever received, a gift that taught me this lesson in a very personal way.

Years ago, my wife Jenna gave me a small gray box. Inside were twelve white envelopes, each labeled with a month of the year. Inside each envelope was a date she had planned for us. Movies. Plays. Picnics. Dance lessons. Nothing extravagant. Just intentional time together.

It was the greatest gift she could have given me. Not because of what we did, but because of what she offered. Her time. Her attention. Her love.

That gift taught me something I try not to forget. The best parts of life are not things. They are moments. They are connections. They are quiet conversations, shared experiences, and relationships strengthened through presence.

At Christmas, as we think about gifts, I cannot help but think about the greatest gift ever given.

Jesus Christ.

I ask a question I want to invite all of us to consider. What time and attention am I giving to Him?

The Lord invites us to look at His hands.

“Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself” (Luke 24:39).

“Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands” (Isaiah 49:16).

His hand is stretched out still.

I love the thought that Christ has His hand still stretched out, all the days of our lives, inviting us to take hold and experience the more abundant life He offers.

He is in relentless pursuit of you.

So I ask myself, and I ask you, is He receiving the lion’s share of my time and attention? Am I learning of Him, walking with Him, listening to His words, and seeking Him daily?

He is the gift that brings life in more abundance. He is the reason for the season, but not just this season. He is the reason we can have peace in our storms, confidence in our purpose, and hope in every chapter of our lives.

So this Christmas, and as we move into a new year, may we consecrate more of our time and attention to Him by serving one another. By lifting someone who is struggling. By checking in on a friend. By forgiving. By slowing down long enough to see people the way He sees them.

From our family to yours, thank you for being part of this mission and this community. We love you.

Merry Christmas, and may God bless you with peace, purpose, and the courage to give the gift of time and attention.

Trevor Farnes

MTN OPS Founder & CVO