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From the writings of the Rev. Billy Graham

Dear Rev. Graham: My church is truly a community church, offering after-school activities so that parents can finish their workdays and then collect their children from this safe space. However, while the church does well at caring for the children, there’s no effort to teach them about God. The leadership says plainly, “We don’t want to offend any of the neighborhood families that might believe differently from Christians.” Should Christians replace God’s Word with activities? – C.C.

 

Dear C.C.: Christian service is often mistaken for humanitarian service. Christ called His followers to proclaim His message and this is done in various ways. Ministering to people’s souls is far greater than providing only physical needs. Often, however, we earn the opportunity to share Christ when a helpful hand has been extended to someone in need. Then you can say with Paul, “I thank God, whom I serve with a pure conscience” (2 Timothy 1:3, NKJV).

An elderly couple had been praying for the Lord to show them how they could serve Him. Physically, they were unable to venture far from home. One day a neighbor (a young mother), knocked at their door and handed them some fresh bread she had baked. The couple, overwhelmed at her gift, invited her in. Looking into her pale face with dark circles under her eyes, they learned she was suffering from a serious disease and asked if they could pray with her. A tear fell on her cheek, and she said, “No one has ever prayed for me before.” As the weeks and months passed, the couple came to know the woman and began looking after her children on occasion while the woman went for medical treatment. The old couple baked cookies and taught the children Bible stories after school. In time, the entire family came to know the Lord.

This is service with eternal value. “Do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord” (2 Timothy 1:8, NKJV).

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(This column is based on the words and writings of the late Rev. Billy Graham.)