I am attending a class at my church that is equipping me to reach out in ministry to the sick, dying, homebound whatever the need may be. Last night the Pastor shared from the 2 Corinthians passage above.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, Who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we our-selves are comforted by God.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4
At On Wings that is exactly what we do as we reach out to each of you in one way or another. Your needs vary in both timing and the cycle you find yourself in. We all know we are one phone call away from a crisis or from a hallelujah moment!
Don’t we always want to talk to someone who has been through something we are experiencing? We know they can empathize and understand our pain. As our passage says, we are to comfort others with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. Sometimes the per-son wants you to share your experience but often times they just need a shoulder, an ear, a hug, or a prayer. You have all been there.
I have seen so many of you grow leaps and bounds on your journey to healing and restoration in Christ. I remember specifically one mother who came to her first retreat almost in a fetal position as shame had overcome her due to her journey with her son. By the end of our weekend together, I saw her start to rise a little higher. As the years have gone by, she has begun to find her freedom in Christ and blossom. Her smile is radiant although the circumstances with her son remain the same; she has learned to live out her life with hope and expectancy. There’s no better sight than to see a fellow believer rise out of their pit to live life to the fullest and find happiness and joy.
I urge you to come join us in our efforts to minister healing to someone who may just be starting their journey or be stuck in a rut of self blame and condemnation. Won’t you come volunteer to assist with a retreat, our Bible study, our newsletter distribution, our inmate outreach and pen pal ministry or our efforts to collect shoeboxes for prisoner’s kids? You will be blessed and store up treasures both on earth and in heaven. We need you!
-Sandra