"… you cannot, as a Christian, walk away from Africa. America will be judged by God if, in its plenty, it crosses the road from 23 million people suffering from HIV, the leprosy of the day. What's up on trial here is Christianity itself… Distance does not decide who is your brother and who is not. The church is going to have to become the conscience of the free market if it's to have any meaning in this world—and stop being its apologist."

— Bono Vox from U2 in an interview on beliefnet.com February, 2001, Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Dave Bootsma

James 2:18 KJV "Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works."

The choir of the North Carroll Assembly of God in Manchester, MD go to church regularly, but they also go to bars and prisons. Why?

According to the choir director Deanna Shrodes, they go to places "where we were guaranteed to find hurting people." They are taking their message of hope to those who can't or won't come to them, and many of them are responding by accepting Christ.

"And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled." (Luke 14:23

Today, in Hangar 5, in John F. Kennedy Airport's Cargo Area D is a warehouse full of items intended for the victims of 9-11. The facility originally built to house 747s, it is one of two-dozen warehouses ran by the Salvation Army that were once bulging with the donations from well meaning Americans. The items-towels, blankets, rubber boots, flashlights, stuffed animals-remain in storage because very little of it was needed in the first place.

In this case, most of the goods were distributed to charities who can store the items and distribute them as needed in the future, but sometimes the donations are wasted. After Hurricane Andrew in 1993, so many goods were donated that officials had to take them to the landfill where they were burned and bulldozed with other garbage.

According to emergency workers, surplus donations almost always happen. They discourage donated goods, yet people give anyway. Richard Sheirer, New York City's commissioner of emergency management said, "Some people just had this compelling need to help even if it wasn't helpful."

Is it possible for helping not to be helpful? Is it possible for helping to be hurtful? Absolutely, if it makes people dependant instead of independent. Perhaps that is why Jesus often required those he healed to do what they could while He did for them what they could not do for themselves.

John 9:7 NASB "and said to him, "Go, wash in the pool of Siloam" (which is translated, Sent). And so he went away and washed, and came back seeing."

In his book, Emerging Worship, Dan Kimball writes, “The average person is awake 112 hours a week (assuming he or she sleeps eight hours a night). If a person goes to a weekend worship gathering that lasts two hours, then 98.2 percent of their week is not in a weekend worship gathering. To most people, ‘church’ involves only 1.8 percent of their time. The rest is supposedly not ‘church.’ Tisis pretty crazy because in reality you and I and other Christians are the Church 100 percent of the time.”

Matthew 5:14-16 (NASB) "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. [15] Nor do men light a lamp, and put it under the peck-measure, but on the lampstand; and it gives light to all who are in the house. [16] Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”

For more information on Emerging Worship, go to http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0310256445/fm082-20

On the anniversary of Hurricane Katrina unleashing its fury on the Gulf Coast, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary Chuck Kelley said, "All throughout our seminary family there has been a confidence in God and commitment to the future and a real attitude of love and grace and mutual support. We are going to mark the anniversary of Katrina by having a worship and ministry day." The school cancelled classes and sent the students out into the community to minister to the needs that remain in the area.

Some people count their woes and ignore their blessings, others count their blessings and hardly notice their problems—they're too busy tending to the needs of others.

Mark 9:41 (HCSB) "And whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because of My name, since you belong to the Messiah—I assure you: He will never lose his reward."

In their book, "A is for Abductive", Sweet & McClaren write, "This new concept of ordination means that in the emergying culture, your pastor isn't the only ordained one. Rather, he or she is the one who trains you to faithfully and truthfully do your ordained work of dedicated service in the world into which you have been sent."

1 Peter 2:9 (HCSB) "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the One who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light."

Mr. T is in the news again. This famous television actor from yesteryear's A-Team series has shed the pounds and pounds of trademark gold chain upon visiting the devastation of Hurricane Katrina.

He stated it would be "a sin against God" to continue to be so showy in light of the suffering. He encourages other "stars" to shed their photo-ops with the victims and replace that time with "a check and a hammer and a nail to help the people."

Churches have these same people attending for the limelight moments of special events. All eyes seem to be upon them as they stroll midst the crowd of worshipers. Yet, the real test of worth is the inner motivation, not the outer activity. "A cup of cold water in Jesus' name" is of more importance than a front page notice.

—WORLD magazine, July 29,2006, page 7. Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and John Elder.

Matthew 25:40 (NLT) "And the King will say, 'I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!'

The U.S. and Russian astronauts on the International Space Station had to rely on a less than ideal diet for five weeks, because their predecessors raided the pantry.

Astronaut Leroy Chiao said both he and his Russian counterpart ended up losing a few pounds in the ordeal.When the astronauts arrived at the Space Station in October, they discovered that they would have to cut calories because the previous crew got into their food rations.While the previous astronauts had permission to get into the food supplies, they had not recorded how much they had eaten. Chiao said, "It was not until we got well into the mission we started seeing on board we weren't going to have enough."

The astronauts inventoried the remaining food, which was heavy on candy and desserts, then worked out a diet to stretch their supplies until a cargo ship arrived with fresh supplies. Chiao said they had to cut back on rations of foodstuff such as meat, potatoes, and vegetables.He added that they supplemented to make up for the calorie deficient with sweets."Chiao added, "It was not an unhealthy diet but not an ideal diet."

The supply ship arrived with supplies of food, water, equipment, and other supplies. If it had been delayed, the astronauts would have had to cut their mission short and return to earth aboard a Soyuz capsule docked at the station.

—Reuters, Astronauts on Candy Diet After Pantry Raided, December 30, 2004. Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

Let's remember that our actions will impact others and may adversely impact their "mission."

Philip. 2:3 (NASB) "Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind let each of you regard one another as more important than himself;"

A controversy has arisen in Switzerland regarding the well known St. Bernard dogs and the accompanying St. Bernard hospice that have kept watch over an ancient alpine pass for centuries. The monks at the hospice are trying to find another organization to take care of the large dogs in order to open new opportunities to reach people.

Over the years, the hospice and the famous dogs wearing barrels marked with a red cross helped more than 200,000 safely cross the eight thousand foot pass. Neither the dogs nor the monks of St. Bernard's have actively worked in rescues for at least 50 years. Faster and safer methods of rescue such as helicopters and emergency personnel have been introduced in the area. The only dog at St. Bernard's hospice currently is a golden retriever, while only four monks remain.

St. Bernard's hospice is largely operated for the tourist industry these days. The dogs are only present during the summer months.Father Frederic Gaillard says the decreasing numbers of monks and the hard work required to keep up the dogs are causing St. Bernard's to shift their focus.He says the dogs eat four to five pounds of food daily, and the big energetic dogs need to get out for exercise several times a day. He adds, "We think it's better to spend more of our time listening to people and not just them. (the dogs)."They take up too much energy. It's people that need us, and that's not well understood."

—http://aolsvc.news.aol.com, This Time It's the Faithful Hero That Needs the Rescue, October 27, 2004. Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

The Optimist Club in one small Pennsylvania town is disbanding after serving the community for nearly a quarter century.The acting President, Bernard Kensky says the problem is not as much a lack of funding as it is a lack of interest.

Kensky says the local group is part of an international community service organization that runs sporting and scholarship activities for young people. Membership in the Quakerstown group has dwindled to 11 members in the past few years.Kensky says as members died or retired, no one stepped forward to replace them.

Besides apathy, Kensky said he felt the media could be partly to blame because they had failed to cover events like spelling bees and the annual bike derby. Kensky told a reporter, "I do feel sad about it. It was something I enjoyed doing. We've just run our course."

—Reuters; Apathy Dooms Optimists; December 1, 2004. Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

What happened in this organization could happen in any church too if members do not fulfill their calling and minister according to their gifts.

Ephes. 4:11-13 (NIV) "It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, [12] to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up [13] until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ."

Michael Nicholson is a 67 year old student. He has earned 27 college degrees. Included are “two associates degrees, one bachelor’s degree, 20 master’s degrees, three specialist’s degrees, and one doctorate.”

What drives Mr. Nicholson to learn? He says, “I find that the intellectual stimulation and the acquaintances that I have at the intellectual level make it really worthwhile.”

What has Mr. Nicholson done with all he has learned? Not much. He worked as a substitute teacher and a parking-meter attendant. His main occupation has been earning degrees. Even now he is working on two additional master’s degrees.

--World Magazine, February 14, 2009, p. 13. Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell

Many Christians have an educational philosophy much the same. They attend church to listen to the sermon, they go to bible study, and they may attend conferences. They study theology and God’s word, but they do nothing with all the knowledge they gain. They study the Bible for the stimulation and the fellowship.

Once we learn a Biblical truth we are responsible to share it with others. A certificate of learning is not nearly as impressive as a life of service. The Bible teaches us that there is a purpose to our study. It is not to edify ourselves but to prove ourselves as workers.

2 Timothy 2:15 (KJV) “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

“Douglas Murphy had just stepped onto a subway platform in the Bronx, N.Y. when a group of teenagers accidentally bumped into 88-year-old Anna Lebron, knocking her to the tracks. Murphy urged her to get up, but she was unconscious. So he jumped down onto the tracks and struggled back onto the platform with her, just seconds before a train came tearing through. ‘I didn’t hesitate,’ Murphy said. ‘You know, it was like an act of faith at that moment, like it was my mother down there or something.’”

--The Week January 29, 2010, p. 4. Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell

Serving one another is an act of faith. When we care for others, when we place them on a level of concern even above our own needs, then we are being Christlike. While we may not get many opportunities to save the elderly from an onrushing train, there are many other dangers the least capable among us face. We would do well to “see them as our own mothers.”

Philippians 2:3-4 (NASB77) “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind let each of you regard one another as more important than himself; (4) do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.”

At his memorial service, speakers remembered a Philadelphia cabdriver as a man who had a unique ministry to the people of the city. Milton Stackhouse, better known to his friends as “Stack” died of a heart attack at the wheel of his cab on his 64 birthday. Family and friends remembered Stack as a family man who set a good example to follow. The said his customers must have loved him and his message because they kept coming back to him over the 35 years that he drove for several taxi companies in the area.

Stack’s mother said losing her son was difficult, but she was trusting God. She said her son accepted Jesus as his savior at an early age. Though his schedule kept him from attending church on a regular basis, his mother added, ”When I think about it, he was engaged in a type of ministry of his own as he served his taxi customers.” Stack’s son Dwayne summarized his father’s life as an example of service and love. He said, "My father set a great example for us in terms of a strong work ethic. He also showed us how to love others and serve them. He had several jobs throughout his life, but his true joy and love was driving a taxi cab.”

--Milton David Stackhouse, 64, taxi driver, http://articles.philly.com/2011-07-13/news/29769317_1_taxi-cab-taxi-driver-sister-and-son, July 13, 2011, Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

1 Corinthians 10:31 (CEV) When you eat or drink or do anything else, always do it to honor God.

In Ministering to Problem People in Your Church: What to Do With Well-Intentioned Dragons, Marshall Shelley writes, “According to the National Institute of Mental Health, more than 25 percent of Americans ages 18 and older suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder in a given year.” --Jim L. Wilson

Ministering to Problem People in Your Church: What to Do With Well-Intentioned Dragons by Marshall Shelley , p. 94

Understanding the scope of the number of people who suffer from mental illness and peeling back the stigma of depression, anxiety, suicidal tendencies is the first step toward ministering to people who represent 25% of the America population.

Psalm 34:17-20 (HCSB) The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears, and delivers them from all their troubles. (18) The LORD is near the brokenhearted; He saves those crushed in spirit. (19) Many adversities come to the one who is righteous, but the LORD delivers him from them all. (20) He protects all his bones; not one of them is broken.

In 1998, Randy Howell won a fishing tournament with a first place prize of $100,000. He says that at a recognition event, he was feeling a bit prideful when a friend confided in Randy that things weren't going well in his life. Howell mentioned getting together to talk later but never followed up. Later, Howell heard that the man committed suicide.

Howell says, "The Lord for some reason put him across my path at his darkest moment. But my pride got in the way, and I missed a divine opportunity. That was the turning point in my spiritual life. I was all in after that."

In 2002, Howell got another chance to seize a ministry opportunity. He said, "This guy walks up and tells me, 'I'll tell you what I am. I'm an alcoholic and a drug addict.' "So I put my rod down and said, 'Tell me about it.'"

The man was in absolute despair. His wife and children had left him. He felt he was at the end of his life. Howell listened and shared some of his story, and recommended a book that the thought would help the man.

There are many more details to the story, but this is how it concludes: Two years later, Howell got a letter from the man. He had stayed awake all evening reading the recommended book. He had since gotten clean and sober and was leading a productive life. The letter was a thank you note. The man wrote that he had planned to commit suicide that evening. —Jim L. Wilson & Ed Pincusoff

1 Peter 3:15 (HCSB)“but honor the Messiah as Lord in your hearts. Always be ready to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you.”

Caroline Gowan from Bonaire, Georgia began Loads of Love for her Girl Scout Gold Award project. Today Gowan and volunteers from Bonaire United Methodist Church offer to wash loads of laundry for anyone in need of clean clothes. They do the ministry at a local Laundromat one evening each month and plenty of people show up for clean laundry.

Ron Powers of Scotts Valley, California has taken his Loads of Love ministry a step further. Powers, an engineer at Apple by day, spends evenings and weekends, as time allows volunteering to wash clothes for homeless people. He has outfitted a used Ford van with two washers, two dryers. He also installed a generator and external water storage for when he is unable to hook up to those utilities. Powers says he “wants to restore integrity to people so that they would feel valued.” “I believe God has created every person to have value and if he feels that they are valuable, I need to feel that they’re valuable, as well.” –Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell.

Galatians 5:13 (CSB)“For you were called to be free, brothers and sisters; only don’t use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but serve one another through love.”

When a Christian finds him or herself in a difficult ministry situation we just don’t know what to say, or do, or how we can help. Many times our presence with someone is worth more than any word we can say or action we can take. In fact, a new study shows that the simple act of holding hands with a loving partner can significantly reduce physical pain. Researchers conducted the study with couples who had been together for at least a year. They allowed brain scans as they kept 1/3 of the couples in separate rooms, 1/3 were in the same room, and 1/3 were holding hands. They then subjected the women to mild pain. When the couples were holding hands, the pain was reduced by an average of 34%.

Pavel Goldstein, from the University of Colorado says, “this research illustrates the power and importance of human touch.”

Many of the people that Jesus healed, he healed with a touch. We always knew there was something special about holding hands, or putting an arm around a shoulder, or the laying on of hands. This study just shows there may be scientific evidence for it. —Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell.

Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched him. “I am willing,” he told him. “Be made clean.” Immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean.

Richard Mayer was a brand new police recruit working at his very first shift. He and his partner took a lunch break at the local Chick-fil-A. A young mother in the restaurant, Melanie Hasse, rushed up to the officers and said her 15-month-old daughter was choking on a piece of apple. Mayer jumped to his feet and performed the baby Heimlich back-slaps until the food was dislodged.

Melanie Hasse later said, “I don’t think it’s a coincidence that this was his first day. I think he was meant to be somebody who protects.”

Very well put, Melanie. The same is true for you and me. It is no coincidence when God puts us in a situation where someone needs our service. We are after all, saved to serve. —Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell.

Just as each one has received a gift, use it to serve others, as good stewards of the varied grace of God.

A Methodist church in Minnesota asked members over the age of 60 to worship elsewhere for 18 months while it tries to woo a younger congregation. After all, Rev. Dan Wetterstrom explained, “Jesus said we are called to reach new people.”

I understand the need and the desire to reach new and younger people for our congregation. There is something wrong however, with neglecting our older members. —Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell.

In his business book, Building a StoryBrand: Clarify Your Message So Customers Will Listen, Donald Miller says something from a business perspective that the church has known for years: “Those who realize the epic story of life is not about them but actually about the people around them somehow win in the end.” —Jim L. Wilson

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves.