“The Hands and Feet of Jesus”

One of the guiding principles of Sisters Christian Academy (SCA) is to see the children who attend develop a world view that includes dreaming what God would have them do for Him when they grow up. Peggy Miller, SCA’s Principal, said the staff and board has for two years actively sought for a way for SCA students’ and families to reach out to the world and “be the hands and feet of Jesus.” When Peggy heard about ANM’s ministry plans for Liberia which included orphans she felt this was a great opportunity for the students, staff, and families to be involved. SCA set a goal to raise $2,000 for food and medicine for the three orphanages in which ANM would minister. In amazing ways the children gave from their hearts, often sharing all of their allowance money or babysitting money or money earned from doing extra chores around the house. The students, staff and families raised almost $4,000! The result was that all three orphanages received enough rice, beans, and cooking oil to feed the children and staff for two months. In addition, the extra funds raised allowed each orphanage to have a six month supply of multi-vitamins for each child. From the smallest to the oldest children at SCA, they realized they could make a difference in a life—even in far away Liberia!

Murder and Forgiveness

I trust you had a blessed Easter this past weekend. As you may still be reflecting on the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus below is another story from our recent trip to Liberia. This story reflects much of why Jesus came to die—to bring peace, forgiveness and reconciliation between man and God and also between men.

Brian DeVries had traveled to Liberia once before to teach pastors. Brian, from Minnesota, joined the ANM team to help teach pastors again. With his wife, Kimberly, they also led worship and intercession at the evening meetings with churches in Kakata. From his previous trip, Brian learned about the impact the three civil wars have had in Liberia, including the tremendous amount of pain and suffering the people have gone through. As he prayed for the Lord to direct his messages, God placed in his heart a message on forgiveness. This message included the true story of the five missionaries killed in the late 1950’s by the Waodani tribe—including Nate Saint and Jim Elliot. Each day, Brian prepared to teach this message to the pastors and each day the Lord said “not yet.” Finally the conference for pastors was over. Brian wondered why God had so clearly placed this message on his heart and yet did not free him to teach on forgiveness.

On the last day in Kakata, Brian was asked to preach in one of the local churches. Finally, on this day, God released him to teach on forgiveness. As he shared the story of the missionaries, he then told the people how Elisabeth Elliot, Jim’s wife, and Rachel Saint, Nate’s sister, went to their husbands murderers to tell them of God’s love and forgiveness. As this story was shared, one woman stood up in church. She was visibly shaken, tears streaming down her face, the weight of the world on her shoulders. She came forward and asked Brian to pray for her to forgive her husband’s murderers. During the last war, while holding her wounded husband in her arms, a rebel soldier macheted her husband in half. She has been filled with anger and bitterness ever since. As Brian prayed for God to release her from anger, bitterness and the ability to forgive, the Spirit of God touched her deeply. There was a tremendous sense of a burden lifted, of a heart being filled with peace, and a profound touch of God that comforted her. Amazing! Brian’s message was not for the pastors (the many) but for the one God intended. Who knows how the Lord will use this woman in the lives of other women who have experienced so much pain as she tells the story of God’s healing touch and forgiveness.