As I write these words, the world is reacting to the terrorist attacks in France and Nepal is struggling to survive a shortage of basic supplies due to a blockade along its border with India.
In times like these it’s easy to sense fear and even hopelessness. Yet God faithfully breathes hope into us if we are willing to receive it. One way God has been doing that for me is through a story I recently heard from our missionaries in Rwanda, Africa. It’s a story about a man named Habimana.
Habimana is a pastor in the Evangelical Friends Church-Rwanda (EFC-R) and also leads the Rwanda Friends Theological College in Musanze. He has quite a bit of education, yet he is always eager to learn more. Lately he, along with the missionaries and many others from EFC-R, have been learning what it means to make Jesus Lord, not just of their marriages, parenting, and finances, but to make him Lord of the way they care for their bodies, the way they care for the earth, and even the way they treat their enemies. This is called “whole-life discipleship,” and Habimana has been eating it up!
Not long ago Habimana and his wife felt led of the Lord to buy property that was filled with lava rock and eucalyptus trees. They cleared the land, planted potatoes and onions, and built a new home. They have a cow, chickens, mulch pits, and enough fruits and vegetables for their family as well as others who are in need.
Right next door lives a family that belongs to another tribe. They were not happy when Habimana and company moved into the neighborhood. But Habimana and his wife chose to bless their neighbors by praying for them every day, visiting them, and taking small gifts like a bag of sugar. Over time the mistrust and fear melted away, and the family next door began to return the visits and share meals. This was a huge step for them because Rwandans do not generally accept food from strangers for fear of being poisoned. The relationship between the two families has developed to the point that now, if Habimana and his wife need to go somewhere, they can leave their baby with this family. And best of all, this family has come to faith in Christ!
How does God dispel the clouds of doom and sadness in our world? Through transforming the lives of people like Habimana, his family, and their neighbors. At EFM we talk about fueling a worldwide movement of people who seek first the kingdom of God. Those people become like shining stars in a “crooked and depraved generation” (Philippians 2:15). May this world be filled with such stars!
Would you join us in fueling this worldwide movement? You can do so by signing up to be a prayer partner if you are not one already. You can also participate by becoming an EFM donor. Below is a donate button that provides a way for you to partner with us by making a one-time year-end gift. Your gift of $50, $100, $250, $500, or more will greatly support the type of ministry God uses to transform the lives of people like Habimana and his neighbors. The EFM Board-who is generous year-round-has provided a special matching fund of $30,000 in hopes of encouraging you to consider a special year-end gift. Will you accept the challenge? I hope you will. God wants to use all of us in one way or another in his work of transforming lives.
The Lord bless you and make you a shining star where you are.
-Dan Cammack, Executive Director of EFM
P.S. Perhaps a monthly gift to EFM throughout 2016 is a better alternative for you. Or maybe you’d be interested in including EFM in your will or estate plan. If you would like assistance with either form of giving, please let us know at efm@friendsmission.com.Send an email to efm@friendsmission.com to be included in the EFM Prayer Partner List. Put in the subject line “add me to the EFM Prayer Partner List.”
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