Building Bridges

Bridges are fascinating structures.  They come in all sizes and shapes. There is a five-foot bridge made of 2X4s across the drainage ditch in my back yard. In Africa, we crossed many bridges made of tree trunks and rotting boards, sometimes by foot, and sometimes – gulp – by car.  I’ve crossed the Mackinac and Golden Gate bridges at one time or another; both are stunning feats of engineering.  I’ve read about the amazing 14-year construction of the Brooklyn Bridge, which still does its job with style nearly 140 years after completion.  

Yet all bridges do the same, relatively simple thing: they provide a safe, straight path over otherwise unpassable terrain.

Christians are  - or should be – bridge builders. My pastor reminded me recently that we are called to build bridges of grace and mercy that will support the weight of truth.  We often wonder why so many people around us ignore the gospel.  Perhaps it’s because we are focused on our words, while they are looking for grace and mercy.  When we show grace and mercy in tangible ways, the truth we speak is so much more acceptable.

That’s why wholistic ministry is so important, and why ECM works hard to build bridges of grace and mercy.  We believe that love shown in practical ways will support the weight of the gospel, leading many to believe.  Jesus brought good news for today, for tomorrow, and ultimately for eternity.  Every act of love, like every word of truth, moves people one step closer to accepting Christ’s atoning work on the cross.

Join with us today as together we build bridges of grace and mercy that will support the weight of truth.

The Power of Appreciation

I was sitting in the Brussels airport on Valentine's Day morning.  I was exhausted after a grueling two week trip in Africa, and an overnight flight in economy.  There were no gluten free options for breakfast anywhere, and my only comfort was a cup of Starbucks Mocha coffee (at least they had a dairy free option)😃.  The last two weeks had been among the most grueling of any of my trips, between COVID tests, intense heat, and stressful situations to deal with.  I had another long flight to look forward to, then a layover and another flight.  I was ready to be home.  And I wondered if what I do makes much of a difference, and is worth the effort.  

And then I opened my email.  A staff member had decided to take the time to write a brief but thoughtful email letting me know that I was appreciated.  Tears came to my eyes as I contemplated what I was reading. Maybe it was the exhaustion that brought the tears, but more likely, there was enough power in those simple words to make a grown man cry .  I certainly didn't deserve such compliments, but that morning they did a lot to remind me of the importance of what we do at ECM.  In the grand scheme of things, what we do seems rather small and insignificant, but who says God doesn't do some of his best work outside of the spotlight?  The smiles of the kids and the appreciation of the staff remind me that whatever we can do to help, despite our limitations and failings, is worth all the effort.

Take some time today to show your appreciation for what others do to make the world a better place.  Look for something small and put it in the spotlight.  As Christians, we shouldn't do much to highlight our own accomplishments, but that should never stop us from genuinely appreciating what others are doing to spread a little love in a hurting world.