During this time some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. One of them, named Agabus, stood up and through the Spirit predicted that a severe famine would spread over the entire Roman world. (This happened during the reign of Claudius.) The disciples, as each one was able, decided to provide help for the brothers and sisters living in Judea. This they did, sending their gift to the elders by Barnabas and Saul. Acts 11:27-30
“It is interesting also to compare the custom of the early Christians in the matter of fasting, that they might relieve by their self-denial the necessities of the poor. This is precisely what we find described so fully in the Similitudes of Hermas (Sim. v. 3), where the directions are given that on the day when we fast we are ourselves to eat only bread and water, and calculate the amount saved thereby and bestow it on the poor. Now very many of the later fathers teach the same doctrine, that fasting and alms are conjoined in duty and merit, and that it is proper, under certain circumstances, for the church to call for such an expression of religion. But what makes for the antiquity of the apology is that the whole church fasts, not merely one day, but two or three days, and that not by direction or rule, but because they are poor and have no other way of meeting the needs of those who are poorer than themselves. It is a spontaneous, rather than a commanded charity, dictated at once by love and necessity.”
J. Rendel Harris in the introduction to “The Apology of Aristides on Behalf of the Christians” which he wrote in A.D. 125 to Roman Emperor Hadrian, who reigned from A.D. 117-138 about the Christians (Cambridge University Press, 1893) 15.
What I am seeing in the people of Malawi seems to echo what Aristides reported of the early church. They were poor but they practiced self-denial out of love and necessity for those who were more poor.
It’s a powerful witness.
Our GTP team in partnership with GenerousChurch been working with four influential workers of STUM (Sunday School Teachers United Movement) to create the generosity curriculum for use in churches across Malawi.
So far so good. We work to finish a draft today so it can be translated tomorrow.
Appreciate your prayers for us.
And like the Christians in the early church, as you are able, can you help GTP finish the Trust Fund campaign which ends today. We are so close! We are at $9,710 toward the goal of $10,000. Only $290 to go today.
Click here to learn more about the GTP Trust Fund which will support projects like the work we are doing in Malawi. Thanks in advance for your help. Please give as you are able out of love and necessity.