For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have. 2 Corinthians 8:12
“Give something, however small, to the one in need. For it is not small to one who has nothing. Neither is it small to God, if we have given what we could.”
Gregory of Nazianzus (329-390).
When I think of the Passion Week, I picture Jesus concluding his teaching with few parables.
He last words to us would be to live in a state of readiness (like the ten virgins), to put to work the resources He has entrusted to us (like the talents), and to care for those society forgets (like the sheep and not the goats).
The Ukrainians, largely speaking, feel forgotten by the rest of the world.
I am thankful that our ministry this week reminds everyone to trust in God, regardless of the outcome of the conflict, and to urge the Christian workers we resource to position themselves as conduits of hope and love.
And I am thankful for those who have sent gifts to help us. Others have yet to give.
Please don’t consider your gift too small. The widow’s two pennies were not small to Jesus. The boy’s five loaves and two fishes were not too small to Jesus. When we give God what we have, He multiplies is.
For inspiration, watch Palmful of Maize or share it with one person this week. Also pray with me as stewards at a church in Hong Kong take up a collection to help GTP spread this vision to the last and farthest corners of Malawi.
And please ray for our safety. In the western part of Ukraine, we experience air raids daily. Thankfully, we hear that defense intercepts most missiles before they hit their targets.
While Jenni teaches in Lviv, I am now traveling eastward. Today, I go from Ivano-Frankivsk to Ternopil to Mykoliav. Tomorrow to Kherson, Kryvyi Rih, and Kharkiv before heading west for meetings in Kyiv and Irpin.
Please make a special passion week gift to help our Ukraine: Project Structure efforts here.
No gift is too small. Your giving helps with expenses like modest lodging, petrol, a hot dog and coffee for breakfast at a petrol station, and distributions to ministries so far ranging from $500 to $1,000 to $2,500 to $7,500, so far
Thanks for sending Milan and me as gospel ambassadors of hope and love. No gift is too small.