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Ministering to Community
Macedonian Church Giving Example
2 Corinthians 8:1-5
1) Now I want you to know, dear brothers and sisters, what God in his kindness has done through the churches in Macedonia. 2) They are being tested by many troubles, and they are very poor. But they are also filled with abundant joy, which has overflowed in rich generosity.
3) For I can testify that they gave not only what they could afford, but far more. And they did it of their own free will. 4) They begged us again and again for the privilege of sharing in the gift for the believers in Jerusalem. 5) They even did more than we had hoped, for their first action was to give themselves to the Lord and to us, just as God wanted them to do.
We all have probably heard the story of the giving exhibited by the Macedonian Churches…giving beyond their means…giving out of their poverty. Seldom, however, are we able to witness that example in action. In our culture of greed and hyper-consumerism, it is even rare to see many give out of their abundance. Are you ready for some good news? In the scripture above, simply substitute Shepherd Care Orphanage for “the churches of Macedonia.” This is exactly what has been happening over the course of the past few weeks in this poverty stricken community of West Africa.
For weeks during the pandemic of 2020, governments issued lockdown orders. With no food stockpiles and no provision to go outside to obtain food, many of the less fortunate, especially elderly widows, were left without food. As starvation was literally crouching at the door of some, Shepherd Care Orphanage searched out many of those who were destitute and shared what they had in the form of food, toiletries, and medications.
Friday Okoro, pastor of the Shepherd Care Chapel Church, and his wife led the way along with some of the orphans from the home as well as community orphans who draw their sustenance from Shepherd Care Orphanage. Pastor Friday delivered not only food for the body, but also food for the soul as he shared the Gospel and grace of God. Some of the older children assisted the widows by doing their laundry and cleaning house. What a testimony Shepherd Care Orphanage is in this crisis time.
While we certainly applaud them for their heroic and unselfish efforts, there falls a cloud of conviction upon those of us who have been so bountifully blessed with surpluses. Most of us have so much and yet give so little to assist those in need. Let each of us pray for God to show us what He wants us to do and then may we have the intestinal fortitude to DO IT!!!
