no-longer-a-slumdog

No Longer a Slumdog
Reports soon came in about the impact of these efforts in these
tribal villages.
Students were captivated by the love of Christ they heard
about and received in tangible form from their teachers. They
went home and talked about what they were learning, and their
parents started getting excited too. Soon new congregations
sprang up in the region.
These changes did not escape the notice of nearby communities.
Before long, leaders in those villages pleaded with our
mission leaders in charge to start schools for their children too.
The Dream
The school program was starting to grow, but I confess that I
struggled with how people might respond to our new initiative.
You see, my mission has always been to preach the Gospel, establish
local bodies and disciple those who come to know the Lord.
Whereas others in the Body of Christ might be called to minister
aid and comfort in this life, I knew that the eternal destiny of
people was infinitely more important.
I don’t want to suggest that I am hard-hearted and have no
concern for human suffering. Since its beginning, Gospel for
Asia–supported missionaries have been agents of compassion
and were among the first to help victims of catastrophes like the
Orissa cyclone in 1999.
As Christians, I believe we must do all we can to alleviate pain
and suffering in those around us. This sort of concern for others
is a natural fruit of the Gospel. But we must never minister to
someone’s physical needs at the expense of preaching Christ.
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