1 Timothy 6:18 Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.
Like most congregations, we have a number of women who are breast cancer survivors, or who have known someone in their family with it. At this time of year, they get ready to gather together for the annual 5k Susan G Komen Race that takes place in our town. They plan everything cheerfully and encourage our church families to participate in organizing, donating, and even the running. It’s a wonderful cause to support and I greatly admire the work that they do.
There’s a lot of good that emerges from their efforts. They form family support groups; they educate their children. They encourage other women to take heart. They even help the men in their lives understand how important they are to this cause. In fact, one of our church families has even printed T-shirts for their team which reads: DUDES for BOOBS. I’ve even seen photographs of their young sons proudly and cheerfully wearing them. It’s a great cause and a wonderful event. People are so generous and willing to share their experiences, their encouragement, and their enthusiasm.
I see the whole campaign not only as a community gathering, but also as a beautiful opportunity for church people to give of themselves to something important outside of the church. We are so blessed as Christians; it’s also a blessing to be generous and willing to share our faith, our fellowship, and our finances with such a valuable cause.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for the many different people who make up our churches. We especially thank You for the courageous women who have faced breast cancer and survived. We praise You for their continuing work amongst us and we ask that You will bless their efforts to make more people aware of this important issue, and to enable us one day soon to find its cure. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.
John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville , Tennessee
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