Last Sunday, I had the chance to do a missions update about some of the organizations we’re supporting through our COVID-19 and missions budgets. OM works with the refugee community in Greece providing food, masks, carpets, and care packages for those who have had to flee their home countries. YWAM is working in Mumbai among the homeless and slum communities, providing ambulance services and groceries during the peak of the COVID crisis. Relentless Worship Ministry is providing food weekly to the marginalized in Mississauga, partnering with others to share the gospel. And Neighbourlink North York continues to support and care for those struggling with the pandemic in our church’s neighborhood.
It’s a blessing to be able to support these organizations! Last year our theme was to “Give, Go, Grow” and I’m thankful that the conviction to give has stayed with us. I believe though that God is not done with us yet in these areas of giving, going, and growing. In fact, this may be just the beginning for us.
In Perry Soh’s book (chapter 13) he talks about how a major breakthrough happened for the church when we changed our name from “Malaysian Singaporean Bible Church” to “Toronto Life-Spring Christian Fellowship.” Part of the idea behind the name change was that God was calling us to flow out as a spring of life for others. There were all kinds of ministries that we became involved in, and much of it was spurred on by our name change (chapter 14).
The call for us to flow out as a spring of life has never really changed. It’s in our name–part of our DNA! I think it’s important though that in this season, we’re extra attentive to the ways that God may be calling us to reach out to others. It may be as simple and practical as reaching out to a friend we haven’t seen in a while, to find out how they’re doing. It may involve committing to pray for people who may be struggling during the crisis and need extra support. Whatever it may be, I think God is pulling and calling us forward in this season to flow out to others in new ways.
As we focus this year on making every effort, let’s make every effort to pay attention to how God is calling us to reach out to others. And we can always trust that God will provide everything we need for the journey, if we’re willing to step out in faith and follow Him.