Yesterday I wrote about an American teenager who, struggling to find his purpose in life, made a difference in reaching out to disaster victims. The ministry I work with, AIM, was involved in aiding Tsunami victims in India.
After the Tsunami hit the coast of India, we worked with our contact there, Pastor Anand, to bring aid to the victims. He was so excited to be our hands and feet in southern India to the tsunami victims, despite their initial lack of appreciation. Here is the report he gave back to us:
“I was able to help 95 people with packets of rice, seasoning for the rice, blankets, cloth for clothing, and some clean water.
When I arrived with these items I was overwhelmed by angry people and had to get the police to help keep order. It’s winter time and it gets cold. The people are becoming desperate in their misery. ‘Why is no one helping us?’ They shouted. People were coming and falling at my feet begging for a blanket or rice when I didn’t have anymore to give out.”
Pastor Anand had the opportunity to talk to the group as many were asking where these things came from. He answered and told them, “God.” He reported that “many were shocked as they are Hindu and believe God is dead.”
“How did God give these things?” they asked.
“I told them God was NOT dead, that He was using his friends in the U.S. to help them and to give the money to buy those things because of His great love for them.”
He went on, “So many people are praying for you. Jesus gave you these things through the Americans.”
That cliche about being Jesus with skin on needs to be refreshed. Everytime I hear a story like Pastor Anand’s, it is refreshed for me.
They were so surprised, “REALLY?! Jesus gave this to us?”
“I was able to talk to them about what Jesus has done for them and many received Jesus. They were so happy and full of appreciation.”
The recipients of the goods said, “Please convey our greetings and appreciation to these people.”
If we all would only take that simple saying serious and really be “JESUS With Skin On” The world would change. This is only one of many examples of ways we can do just that.
And Seth, we convey a great big thank you to you for fulfilling the call of God on your life. So many, tens of thousands in fact, have been touched by you and the ministry of AIM, including me in one of the neediest times of my life. So… from the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU for being Jesus with skin on!!!
Thanks for sharing this story and the point with it as well. I think a lot of times we think that most Christians know it all already, why? I used that term in a conversation with one of my high school girls the other day and she stopped and wrote it down because it jumped out at her so much as she had never heard it. Thank you God for constantly reminding us of where our attitudes need to always be!