By Bro. Dave Bryan - Senior Pastor
We are living the parable right now. We understand that God has given so many blessings, and we understand that He does not intend us to hoard them or squander them. Rather, He has given to us that we might give to others.
Consider the Parable of the Talents, the faithful servants were those who invested their gifts from the Master according to the Master’s desire. In addition, we would do well to consider the book of James. As he writes of the quality or use of our faith, he says, “If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and be filled," and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that?” (James 2:15-16). Throughout the Word of God, we are reminded, we have been blessed that we might be a blessing!
This past week, we have seen devastation on a scale that challenges our imagination. The people of Turkey and Syria are enduring significant hardship. The earthquake has taken the lives of over 34,000 people, not to mention the horrific after effects that will plague those countries in the months, if not years, to come. They
need help.
As believers in Jesus Christ, we will respond. The International Mission Board and North American Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention are our ‘feet on the ground’ in times such as this. Organized as SendRelief, our gifts to the Cooperative Program make such responses possible. However, the need is great, and possibly you would like to help even more. If so, you can make your donation through our church. All monies given will go 100% to help those in need. If giving in person, make sure you note that the gift is to provide aid to the victims of the earthquake in Turkey and Syria. Be sure and mention SendRelief. Or, if you would like to give online, you can designate it to Disaster Relief. For the next month, all online funds designated as such will go to SendRelief. Of course, if you’d like to make your donation directly to SendRelief, you can do so at:
Friends, thank you for living the parable well. It’s a joy to be your pastor!
Bro. Dave