Positive in the Negative

It seems lately, that every time you pick up a paper or turn on the TV or radio you are continually bombarded with news of doom and gloom. Whether it is natural disasters, war, climate change or financial meltdowns, the media always seems to present a very negative outlook.

However, what the world would present as a negative, God can use as a positive opportunity to show the love of God.

This can be best demonstrated by a testimony from one of the churches we support in the Philippines. In January '09, the city of Cagayan de Oro was hit by a typhoon. The city was devastated, people were killed and many areas flooded with people loosing their homes and being displaced. Pastor Alex and Cynthia Eduave and their church have used this calamity as an opportunity to show the love of God to those less fortunate. They have provided medicines and vitamins for the children, shelter for the homeless and are feeding for up to 500 people a day. They see it as an opportunity to present the gospel both in kind and in Word and prayer. We as a church have been privileged in some small way to be part of what God is doing in that city. Last Sunday, our special Philippines offering allowed us to send them $2000 to help those in need.

The opportunities to be a blessing occur more in bad times than in good ones. I believe that as a church if we keep our eyes open for opportunities , we too can be used in a mighty way to bring the gospel to our community as they have in the Philippines.