August 9
Bible Reading: Acts 11:27-30
Acts 11:29-30, “So the disciples determined, every one according to his ability, to send relief to the brothers living in Judea. And they did so, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.”
There were some who had misgivings about the decision for our church to join in a missionary effort to support the churches surrounding the Kabaale Village in Uganda, Africa. Some suggested that there were plenty of needy folks close to home, so there was no need to fly halfway around the world. Some wondered, especially after the trips became a yearly occurrence, how we could ever hope to finance such an effort?
But we ventured out in faith and made that first trip. I ultimately returned eight more times. The folks there have got a lot of needs—imagine children having one change of clothes; never having possessed a toy; and never having enjoyed a piece of candy. The people there lack electricity, medical care, clean drinking water, Bibles in their churches, books in their schools, enough food to eat, etc. The pastors lacked training—that is why I went—but our mission teams assisted in all kinds of ways with both spiritual and physical needs.
Back home, our church eagerly involved itself in the effort. A group of 30 ladies met regularly to make dresses for girls and shorts for boys. Another group made feminine hygiene kits for girls. The church raised money to provide Bibles, gospel tracts, books, pens, writing tablets, food supplies, and cash for assisting in visits to pastors and churches. Despite the expenditure of many tens of thousands of dollars, our church finances never suffered, but improved instead.
That missionary outreach to our friends in Uganda was the best thing to happen to our church in my years of pastoral ministry. The brethren in Uganda are so incredible—receptive to the Word, hospitable, full of faith and love for Jesus, warm-hearted, grateful. The missionary effort of Hope and Mercy Mission grew to involve over 300 Ugandan pastors and churches, lifting the spiritual well-being of an entire region. And our church benefited in unimaginable ways by extending itself in love to those having a unique set of needs. I should note that it was not a one-way exchange—we provided training and a lot of useful things for them, but they taught us plenty about living for Jesus outside the confines of our culture and benefits of our prosperity.
The church in Antioch had received news of a famine that was going to have a severe effect on their brethren in Judea. Being that it was about a fifteen-day journey away, it’s safe to assume that these were folks none of the group had ever met. But that didn’t matter, for they were spiritual brethren, and it was their loving privilege to assist them (1 John 3:16-17). So, they took an offering and sent it by the hand of Barnabas and Saul (Acts 11:3).
There are so many needy folks in our world. God has blessed us with so much. How good it is to be a cheerful giver in meeting such needs (whereever we might find them)—giving Jesus all the glory and thanks for the privilege (2 Corinthians 9:10-15)!
“It is more blessed to give than to receive”—Jesus (Acts 20:35).
FREELY, FREELY
God forgave my sin in Jesus’ name,
I’ve been born again in Jesus’ name;
And in Jesus’ name I come to you
To share His love as He told me to.
Chorus
He said: ‘Freely, freely, you have received,
Freely, freely give;
Go in My name, and because you believe
Others will know that I live.’
All power is given in Jesus’ name,
In earth and heaven in Jesus’ name;
And in Jesus’ name I come to you
To share His power as He told me to. [Chorus]
Copyright © 1972 Bud John Songs/ EMI Christian Music Publishing/ Adm. by CopyCare.
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