03.07Focusing On The One
“If you can’t feed a hundred people, then just feed one.”—Mother Teresa
These days, as we find the months passing too quickly and there still so much left to do, it’s easy to become overwhelmed. A recent happening, though, reminded me of how important it is to pause and focus on the one instead of becoming daunted by the need of the multitude. After all, throughout the Gospels, we see Jesus attracting crowds but never failing to stop and meet one need at a time.
I’m also reminded of how sometimes God can take something discouraging to one person and use it as a blessing to another. When Allan threw out his back many months ago we didn’t imagine that, from that event, the AR team would experience one the most touching moments of our time here yet in being used to bless one young man and his family.
You may recall our blog post from early September about the Powerhouse outreach team meeting a bed-ridden young man named Nicodemus. Nicodemus was born crippled and mentally impaired, but rather than allow him to be given over to institutional care, his parents considered him the greatest gift from God and have ever since cared for him without complaint. Sadly, they can only accommodate him on a rickety old flat bed in the garage, right next to a broken-down, unusable car.
Back in September, Allan found himself lying on the X-ray table at the hospital. The doctor who attended him that day recently helped us obtain a wheeled, adjustable hospital bed for Nicodemus. It was a joyous day for Allan and Annie to pick up the bed, meet up with us and feeding scheme team and for us to go deliver the bed to Nicodemus and his family. Click here to read Allan’s full account of this special day. Truly Nicodemus’ parents were without words they were so surprised and grateful, and while Nicodemus couldn’t articulate with words his thanks, his giant smile communicated enough. It was awesome to see him sitting up for the first time in his new bed.
If you’re wondering how you yourself can meet the need of one in South Africa, we invite you to check out Africa Revolution’s new Partnership Projects Listing for a laundry list of immediate needs as well as ongoing projects. As you’ll see, there are many ways—from helping build the church’s Sunday School classroom to sponsoring a student to replacing the worship team’s drum set—to join in what God is doing here. No contribution is too small, for every bit of your support will touch at least one life. And touching one life can make all the difference.