GENEROUS

Felipe dresses up as a clown. Each Sunday he and his team of fellow youth workers from Iglesia Misionera Evangelica (I.M.E.), go to the poorest sections of Cerro de Pasco to minister to the children. As many as 40-60 kids come out to watch the antics of Bomba the clown, to sing and dance to Christian music and hear Bible stories. Wonderful boys and girls glow with expectant smiles. Their lungs produce hearty cheers and sweet melodies. They held on to us with forever-loving grips. In truth, they ministered to our team more than we did to them.

Underlying each I.M.E. church is a strong commitment to missions. I have rarely encountered a group of churches as zealous about reaching the world with the gospel as I witnessed in each I.M.E. congregation. In Cerro de Pasco, even the poorest of the poor passionately understand God’s command to share the saving news of Jesus globally. Youngsters find ways to save money and then bring what they have to the church to support missionaries most have never met.

Meditation

Psalm 112:5,6—Good will come to him who is generous and lends freely, who conducts his affairs with justice. Surely he will never be shaken; a righteous man will be remembered forever.

Mark 12:42-44—But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny. Calling His disciples to Him, Jesus said, ‘I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.’

Little boys and girls gladly give what they have to further God’s work. I can just see Jesus pointing to His angels and saying, "Look friends what my sons and daughters in Cerro de Pasco are doing!" Generous hearts reveal faith, humility and selflessness. It was your generosity that sent us to Peru. It is the giving hearts of Peruvian children that are making a difference around the world. God takes their small gifts and multiplies them like Jesus breaking five loaves and two fishes to feed thousands. Whenever you give to further God’s kingdom, you make an eternal investment. In heaven you will be rewarded beyond your wildest imagination.

Inspiration

Giving with glad and generous hearts has a way of routing out the tough old miser within us. Even the poor need to know that they can give. Just the very act of letting go of money, or some other treasure, does something within us. It destroys the demon greed.—Richard J. Foster in Money, Sex & Power

The more you have the less you can give, and the less you have the more you can give.—Mother Teresa