Toward the end of every year in December there is a group of members at Beltline (English speaking congregation) that brings presents to our Hispanic children. Every year our children wait eagerly that special Saturday in which presents are brought and a breakfast is served for them. On many occasions those recipients of those Christmas gifts are families who have been visiting our congregation. To make them feel welcomed we include them in the list and presents are brought to them also. Those families are uplifted by the kindness of those members at Beltline who got the gifts for them. They are amazed that somebody cared and included their children in this special occasion. In many cases those families whose children received the gifts continue to come to church and are baptized eventually. I thank God for having such a family in Christ who care for others.
A few weeks ago, I received a phone call from a lady from the Beltline congregation (English speaking congregation) who told me that she had two hams and was wondering if I knew of anybody who may have a need. I said “yes” and explained to her that we had a couple of members who had been sick and were unable to work. She was going to bring the two hams to the church building, but to my surprise she came with four hams. I was able to bring those two extra hams to two families who are not members of the church. I was able to visit with those families and have a Bible study with them. One of those families who were not members of the church are attending now on Sundays.
On several occasions I have received another call toward the end of the month from a lady from the Beltline congregation, and she asks if there is a person or family in need who needs groceries or anything else. In many of the cases the answer is “yes”. We encounter people in our congregation and in the community who are in need. If there is a need, this lady helps to buy groceries or a medication etc. As I meet people week after week, there are situations where people are in need. This need could be in form of groceries or medicine or a ride to the doctor or a translation for a document etc. It does not matter what kind of need the person may have. The greatest need they have is the need for God in their lives. To know HIM and to obey Him in baptism. If we help a person in anyway, at the end of the day that person will know that people who care helped them, and that God has put that desire in their hearts to help them. Those people will have the gospel preached to them.
I do not have enough space in this article to mention all those members at Beltline who have contributed with things or have done things to help other people in our Hispanic community. The most important part is that God knows. Let us get encouraged by the inspired words of the apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:58“Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the LORD, because you know that your labor in the LORD is not in vain.”
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