It's been another chaotic weather weekend with tornaodes hitting just west of Olathe, as well as demolishing large portion of Joplin, Missouri to our south. Over 89 are confirmed dead in Joplin and the death toll is expected to rise. Things are bit unsettling, but we do not live as ones without hope. God is on our side and will enable to us to reach out to the hurting around us:
Please consider joining the relief effort:
1) PRAY: This DOES make a difference! The Lord acts on behalf of those for whom we pray. "Answer me when I call to you, my righteous God. Give me relief from my distress; have mercy on me and hear my prayer." Psalm 4:1
2) CARE KITS: Heart to Heart International is already on site in Joplin with the mobile medical unit and is requesting care kits. Please follow specific instructions below on preparing a Heart to Heart Care Kit. You may drop these off at the ServiceCorps office over the next two weeks.
One new hand towel
One new washcloth
One wide-tooth comb
One 10-15 oz. bottle of shampoo
One new individually wrapped toothbrush
One 4-6 oz. tube of toothpaste
One individually wrapped bath-size bar of soap
Ten (10) adhesive bandages
Two (2) one-gallon-size, zipper-seal plastic bags
** Place all items in one zipper-seal bag, seal it, place the top of the filled bag into the bottom of the second bag and seal the second bag. Please include at least $1.00 donation/kit to cover cost of shipping.
3) VOLUNTEER: Our Kansas City District will be heavily involved in the relief efforts in Joplin. We will keep you posted on the efforts to partner with the Nazarene Disaster Response in mobilizing teams of volunteers to work with local pastors and leaders to distribute aid, offer comfort and begin clean-up.
4) GIVE: You may donate directly to either of these organizations on the web:
-- Nazarene Compassionate Ministries: http://www.ncm.org/give/disasterresponse/ndr
-- Heart to Heart International: http://www.hearttoheart.org/
Thank you for reaching out to our neighbors in the name of Christ.
Go Global: http://www.mnu.edu/global-opportunities.html
MNU ServiceCorps: http://www.mnu.edu/mnu-service-corps.html
Monday, May 23, 2011
Monday, May 16, 2011
And now your God is my God. . .
I just have to share with you a story that will send goosebumps up your arms (the good kind) and set your heart on fire.
This week a friend of mine headed to India to be with his ailing 83 y.o. father, in hopes to convince him to get a life-saving surgery. More importantly, he traveled all the way to India to share with his Hindu father the new life had had found in Jesus Christ. He and his wife had been praying scripture over the aged man for weeks, asking for God's help in sharing the good news of Christ with him.
Upon arrival in India, my friend found that this father not only refused to have the surgery done, but was also entirely negative toward any comments about Christ or prayers that my friend offered on his behalf. He wanted nothing to do with his God.
My friend was distraught at his father's refusal to do the surgery and his blatant opposition to the gospel, so he called home to have his wife, our pastor, and the church pray. .. and pray we did.
Just this weekend my friend's wife received another phone call from India, but this time instead of words spoken from a heavy heart, his words were ones of deep rejoicing! He reported that his dad went through the surgery after all, that it was successful, and that when asked what made him change his mind (after all, he was not at all fond of the idea) he said. . . . . "Your God appeared to me last night and told me to have surgery! Now your God is my God. too."
Incredible! Incredible is all I can say! Isn't it just like the LORD to reveal himself in creative ways and make himself known! God IS real and He is all about changing reality for those who are open to his love. God just changed reality for my friend's dad. Praise Him!
Please pray for my friend's dad, that he would completely choose Christ and pledge his heart to him, and be freed to live victoriously, unbound by the gods of this world that the Hindu religion has set up for him.
This week a friend of mine headed to India to be with his ailing 83 y.o. father, in hopes to convince him to get a life-saving surgery. More importantly, he traveled all the way to India to share with his Hindu father the new life had had found in Jesus Christ. He and his wife had been praying scripture over the aged man for weeks, asking for God's help in sharing the good news of Christ with him.
Upon arrival in India, my friend found that this father not only refused to have the surgery done, but was also entirely negative toward any comments about Christ or prayers that my friend offered on his behalf. He wanted nothing to do with his God.
My friend was distraught at his father's refusal to do the surgery and his blatant opposition to the gospel, so he called home to have his wife, our pastor, and the church pray. .. and pray we did.
Just this weekend my friend's wife received another phone call from India, but this time instead of words spoken from a heavy heart, his words were ones of deep rejoicing! He reported that his dad went through the surgery after all, that it was successful, and that when asked what made him change his mind (after all, he was not at all fond of the idea) he said. . . . . "Your God appeared to me last night and told me to have surgery! Now your God is my God. too."
Incredible! Incredible is all I can say! Isn't it just like the LORD to reveal himself in creative ways and make himself known! God IS real and He is all about changing reality for those who are open to his love. God just changed reality for my friend's dad. Praise Him!
Please pray for my friend's dad, that he would completely choose Christ and pledge his heart to him, and be freed to live victoriously, unbound by the gods of this world that the Hindu religion has set up for him.
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