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There’s a special reminder from the Apostle Paul that I love . . . So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience (Colossians 3:12). In that verse, Paul lists several key qualities, with compassion at the head of the list. These are also in keeping with the very character of our Savior, of whom the Apostle Matthew wrote . . . Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd (Matthew 9:36).
In reflecting on these things, I am reminded of how important SGA-sponsored Compassion Ministry is to the evangelical churches we serve across the former Soviet Union. Preaching the Gospel and teaching the Word of God is paramount, but the love and compassion shown by the people of God demonstrates the faith that we hold in action.
So many men, women, and children in our countries of service live every day in unspeakable poverty. In some regions where violent conflict is ongoing, people are living in bombed-out homes with little or no heat, no employment, and no hope. As the churches visit these regions to distribute the aid you help provide, these needy individuals and families are finding out that there is a God who loves them, and a living Redeemer who paid the price for their sins.
Here in North America, where so many live in relative comfort and affluence, it’s hard to imagine what it’s like to shiver in a bitterly cold room with only a blanket or tarp in the door protecting you from the outside elements. Yet SGA’s Eric Mock has seen these very conditions in a mountain village in Central Asia.
In my visits to the CIS, I also have seen heartbreaking poverty that is almost beyond imagination. Yet I am so thankful to God that He allows us to help, and to make an eternal difference in these shattered lives. And above all, I am thankful for you and all that you do to help make these ministries possible!
For our Savior,
Michael Johnson
President
