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. 

Even in the Worst of Years

As we reach the end of 2020, it would be really easy to look back on the year, throw up our hands and say "good riddance!"  But I've got another idea.

Let's raise up our hands and shout "Thank you Lord!" instead.

I'm not much into complaining about how bad things are, or all the problems I've had to deal with.  I'd rather solve problems then cry about them.  Now, I'm not saying that 2020 hasn't been a very trying, difficult year.  It's been incredibly frustrating at almost every turn.  But I don't think we do ourselves much good by worrying or complaining about it.  The old "attitude of gratitude" mentality works much better, I think.

So let's be thankful about all that was accomplished through this ministry in 2020, instead of complaining about the tasks left unaccomplished because of the pandemic.

Let's thank God for the things we were able to focus on that we wouldn't have been able to focus on if we were doing "normal" ministry.

Let's thank God for the impact you, as an ECM partner, had on so many lives in Congo, Ghana, and Uganda.

As we finish 2020, let's remember all that God has done, and give him thanks for all of it.  As we head into 2021, let's do so with excitement and enthusiasm because we know that even in the worst of years, God still does GREAT things!

His Story

What's it like to be lost, then miraculously found?  Moise*, a little boy from Congo, knows the feeling better than most.  After having been separated from his family and cared for by strangers, he was, in an amazing turn of events which could have only been orchestrated by God, re-united with his father after many years.

These stories never cease to amaze me.  They exemplify just how much God cares for his children, how much he loves us, and what he will do to give us hope for today and for eternity.  

But they are also the stories of what happens when God's people dive headfirst into the messy world in which we live.  They are the stories of what happens when we follow his lead, when we say yes though every part of our being is saying no, when we simply trust and obey, having no idea of the outcome.

I'm glad that these are the kind of stories that we want to be a part of here at ECM, and I hope that you feel the same.  I'm thankful that we aren't just a part of carefully orchestrated stories that always have happy endings, but instead we've chosen to be a part of God's story, no matter how messy certain parts of it may turn out to be.  Moise's story has a happy ending, for which I am grateful.  But even when the story doesn't turn out so well, I'm still grateful, because we are still part of what God is doing, and how he is changing lives for the better.

*You can read Moise's story in our July e-newsletter by clicking here or visiting our website.

Can We Eliminate Discrimination? - Our Plan

Our plan to eliminate discrimination includes two important steps: demonstration of our love for others, and education for those who don't yet understand the hurt they cause when they discriminate against others.

Demonstration

Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 1 John 4:11

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. James 1:22

We believe in the simple phrase made popular by author Bob Goff: Love Does.  Whatever terms or phrases you use, the truth is simple: Christians are not called just to listen, we are called to DO.  And here at ECM, we do a lot of doing!  We spend our time loving, helping, encouraging, challenging, serving, and reassuring those whom God has called us to help.  We want them to feel God’s love tangibly, and not just hear it.  We want them to know beyond a shadow of a doubt that God loves each one of them.

We don’t do what we do to impress others, but there are benefits to having others in the community see love in action.  The truth is, there are many who don’t actually know how to love.  When they see what we do, they not only learn how God calls us to love each other, but they are also inspired to do the same.   We hope that our demonstrations of God’s love for everyone, including the unlovable, will move people away from their discriminating behaviors of the past, and toward an attitude of love for all.

Specifically, here are some examples of how we demonstrate God’s love by loving others:

• Meeting medical needs
• Providing sources of clean water
• Providing clothing and food to those in need
• Encouraging children and families through visits, Bible lessons, and letters
• Training school teachers and Sunday School teachers
• Providing items for children with albinism, such as sunscreen, hats, lip balm, and protective clothing
• Ensuring that school fees are paid so children can receive an education
• Teaching new farming techniques

Education

How much better to get wisdom than gold, to get insight rather than silver! Proverbs 16:16

 

Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.  Proverbs 9:9

 

We realize that no matter how much we help, no matter how many lives we change, no matter how many children we love, the cycle of discrimination will endlessly go on if those who are discriminating against others are never shown the truth.  It is up to us, (the ones who have the truth), to share it with those who are still in the dark. 

 

That’s why we are putting a renewed focus on education to help end discrimination.  We have always been concerned about helping people understand why it’s so important to show love, and why discrimination is not only misguided but detrimental to the health of children and their society as a whole.  Our curriculum on the truth of albinism has been used over the years to guide communities, schools, and churches toward a more Christ-like acceptance of those with albinism.  We are now expanding that curriculum to include a greater understanding and acceptance of those with disabilities, those from other tribes, and those living in extreme poverty.  This will help us guide communities away from the belief that certain children have been cursed and should be avoided, toward a love for all children that encourages everyone to embrace even the most unlovable.

 

We plan to take the following steps to educate communities about the negative impact of discrimination on their children and the positive steps they can take to end its stranglehold on their lives:

• Revise and improve the current albinism curriculum
• Expand and modify the curriculum to include information regarding others who are discriminated against in African society, such as those with disabilities, those from certain tribes, or those living in extreme poverty
• Engage schools, churches, and local leaders in open, respectful dialogue on the topic of discrimination and its impact on their community 

Over the course of the coming year we will be expanding our outreach into the communities where we currently minister, working to both demonstrate God’s love through our actions, and to educate others on the important, biblical reasons for ending discrimination against those forgotten in African cultures.  We will openly discuss these critical issues with anyone who will listen, and we will not rest until all children, no matter their physical state or their level of wealth, are accepted and loved in their communities.

 

Can We Eliminate Discrimination?

I suppose the realistic answer to the question above is a resounding NO!  I can't really argue with that, but I do think it's within our responsibility to do all we can within our sphere of influence bring an end to discrimination.  And that begs the question...

What can we do? 

At ECM, that question is always weighing on our minds.  Not “what can we talk about doing?” or “what can we think about doing?” or even “what can we plan to do?”  But what can we really do? 

We can’t answer that question for you, and we don’t even think we’re supposed to.  It’s something that you’ll have to grapple with on your own.

But we can answer that question for ECM. 

We want to eliminate the discrimination that divides the communities in which we minister, especially the discrimination that causes pain for those with disabilities, those with albinism, and those looked down upon because of their tribe or sex. We are committed to ending discrimination in every sphere where we have influence and restoring children and communities to one another and their Creator through God’s overwhelming love.

We know it's a big goal, but in the communities where we serve, we see children abused and discriminated against everyday because of how they look, how they walk, how they talk, or simply because of the tribe they belong to.  They can’t go places that other kids go, or do things that other kids do.  They don’t get the help they need because the people around them don’t care about them or are afraid of them.  They end up being prisoners in their own homes.  The people in their communities have built walls, and these kids are on the outside looking in.   To end such discrimination is a big goal, but it's one we are willing to go after.

Why do people choose to discriminate against these kids?  We know the answer is complex, but we think one reason is because people don’t understand why these kids are the way they are.  They see “curse” instead of disability or difference, and believe they need to protect themselves and their families, lest the same curse fall on them.  What they need is information.  They need to be educated.  They need to be told the truth about what causes albinism, physical and mental disabilities, and tribal differences.

That’s where ECM can help. 

We believe that we can educate communities, families, and churches about the true causes of these differences, and more importantly, about the love that God has for these children despite the differences.  We also believe that we can demonstrate for these communities how to love these kids unconditionally, so that everyone can see how it’s done.   

We truly believe that these efforts will not only change the lives of these children forever, but will also change the lives of those in the community now, which will eventually change the lives of all the children born into that community in the future.  We believe it will have a long-lasting impact. 

Next week I'll share more about our plan to eliminate discrimination in the areas where we minister.

What Ministry Really Is

As a ministry we are reminded constantly that we need to stay on course, stick to our defined mission, and keep doing what we do best.  In a normal world, in a normal time, I couldn’t agree more. But what do you do when, all of a sudden, “what you do” simply can’t be done?  I suppose you could throw up your hands in frustration, or maybe you could go on vacation.  But what COVID-19 has taught us is that ministry is not really about what we do, although we are called to do specific tasks, and to do them to the very best of our abilities.  No, ministry is about who we do it for, and more importantly, Who we serve.

Back in March we quickly learned that our normal outreach to families through home visits, school visits, Bible clubs and the like just wasn’t going to happen. So we asked the simple but dangerous question, “what do you actually need?”  It was at that point that we realized that what they needed was food, and that they needed it soon.  So we got to work, stopping our normal activities, and putting our efforts into raising funds for food and distributing that food to our kids and their families.  By doing so, we met an immediate need, and at the same time continued to carry out our mission of bringing hope.

What we've learned during this pandemic is that our mandate to serve and bring hope can and will take various forms depending on need.  Our continued mission is to bring hope to the hopeless in every situation, by whatever means necessary, so that all may experience the love and grace of God. Our ultimate calling is to bring hope through service to others, and more importantly, to grow God's Kingdom through service to Him.