In a world where the already poverty-stricken country of Mozambique, on the South-East coast of Africa, is brought to its’ knees and crippled for decades to come because of a cyclone, and where in the most developed countries in the world children are sold into vile slavery, where the elderly die alone all over the world in cold apartments, where politicians take advantage of the vulnerable for their own advantage and where ….(the list goes on endlessly), I find myself asking “why?” I am heartbroken every time I scroll through my news feed.
In taking this hurt to the Lord, I find that my hurt is intentional. It stems from the compassion of Christ in me. It is his goodness through me that makes my heart break. In his presence my “why” turns into “what” and “how”.
What is my response to be?
How do I show the heart of God to this hurting world?
I can read of the evil and the devastation and I can shake my head in judgment. Or I can respond to the prompting of our God and show his goodness to the Godless.
It is easy to feel overwhelmed. There is so much wrong in our world and who am I to fix it? What can I do about it all? Probably very little. Yet, it’s this little that Christ asks of me. And of you. Each little, added together, becomes an avalanche of good, a force to be reckoned with. It is when each of us neglect our little bit that we, his Church, fail. Too often we chase after lofty callings and great destinies only to neglect the little things that turn this world around - regular visits to the elderly in our own life, volunteering at our church, taking an active role in caring for the orphans of our world, donating to a relief fund for those overcome by floods. Many little bits become big bits and Christ’s body becomes an active force of overwhelming love in action.
Every day in my morning prayer, I ask how we can show the heart of God through what Orchard: Africa does. And every day, in my evening prayer, I give thanks for the little bit we did that day.
Our mission is to make sure the Church knows how to, and has what it takes to care for the vulnerable. What an honor to be tasked by Jesus to equip his Church to do this most holy task. When children are afraid, exploited or hungry, Christ wants his Church to respond. When entire communities are washed away, Christ wants his Church to be the first rescue mission, not the last. Wherever people are vulnerable, in whatever form, Jesus wants to be seen walking amongst them through his body, the Church. And at Orchard: Africa, our task is to equip this Church to do these very things. You, me, our staff, our volunteers, all of us in the Orchard family doing our little bit. When added together it equals a whole lot of practical love pouring out to thousands of vulnerable people every single day.
It is then that the God-less become God-full because, after all, it is the goodness of God that leads people to repentance.
May we think on these things! a world where the already poverty-stricken country of Mozambique, on the South-East coast of Africa, is brought to its’ knees and crippled for decades to come because of a cyclone, and where in the most developed countries in the world children are sold into vile slavery, where the elderly die alone all over the world in cold apartments, where politicians take advantage of the vulnerable for their own advantage and where ….(the list goes on endlessly), I find myself asking “why?” I am heartbroken every time I scroll through my news feed. In taking this hurt to the Lord, I find that my hurt is intentional. It stems from the compassion of Christ in me. It is his goodness through me that makes my heart break. In his presence my “why” turns into “what” and “how”. What is my response to be? How do I show the heart of God to this hurting world? I can read of the evil and the devastation and I can shake my head in judgment. Or I can respond to the prompting of our God and show his goodness to the Godless. It is easy to feel overwhelmed. There is so much wrong in our world and who am I to fix it? What can I do about it all? Probably very little. Yet, it’s this little that Christ asks of me. And of you. Each little, added together, becomes an avalanche of good, a force to be reckoned with. It is when each of us neglect our little bit that we, his Church, fail. Too often we chase after lofty callings and great destinies only to neglect the little things that turn this world around - regular visits to the elderly in our own life, volunteering at our church, taking an active role in caring for the orphans of our world, donating to a relief fund for those overcome by floods. Many little bits become big bits and Christ’s body becomes an active force of overwhelming love in action. Every day in my morning prayer, I ask how we can show the heart of God through what Orchard: Africa does. And every day, in my evening prayer, I give thanks for the little bit we did that day. Our mission is to make sure the Church knows how to, and has what it takes to care for the vulnerable. What an honor to be tasked by Jesus to equip his Church to do this most holy task. When children are afraid, exploited or hungry, Christ wants his Church to respond. When entire communities are washed away, Christ wants his Church to be the first rescue mission, not the last. Wherever people are vulnerable, in whatever form, Jesus wants to be seen walking amongst them through his body, the Church. And at Orchard: Africa, our task is to equip this Church to do these very things. You, me, our staff, our volunteers, all of us in the Orchard family doing our little bit. When added together it equals a whole lot of practical love pouring out to thousands of vulnerable people every single day. It is then that the God-less become God-full because, after all, it is the goodness of God that leads people to repentance. May we think on these things!
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