At our Send Relief Center in Toronto, we talk a lot about Isaiah 61. Jesus quotes this passage in Luke 4 as He introduces His public ministry. He speaks about being sent to proclaim the good news and to bind up the brokenhearted. In essence, Jesus came to preach and to meet needs, to serve and to share.
As we serve in compassion ministries, we must do the same. Isaiah 61:3-4 says, “And they will be called righteous trees, planted by the Lord to glorify him. They will rebuild the ancient ruins; they will restore the former devastations.” In other words, those we serve may become the ones who serve and through whom God will do an amazing restorative work.
Christ calls His followers to take the gospel and make disciples of all nations. So, as we care for the physical and emotional needs of vulnerable people through compassion ministries, our plan must care for their spiritual needs as well. We must see them as potential future disciples. Those we are called to care for could be the next missionaries or planters our church sends out.
One of the missionaries at our Send Relief Center is an example. She came to Canada as she fled violence directed at her family in their home country. In Toronto, they lived near a park where a local church gave away bread each week. Through loaves of bread, she connected to the church. They loved her, served her, told her about Jesus, and then discipled her. She is now a key disciple maker through her church and our ministry center. A loaf of bread led her to the Bread of life!
Serving the vulnerable is meeting needs, but it is much more than that. We must look beyond serving and meeting a need and focus on developing the next generation of disciples.
Kimberley McGibbon serves as Ministry Director in Toronto for Send Relief.
Find ways your church can serve in compassion ministries at courses.sendrelief.org
