Author: Elizabeth Mullins

Let us not grow weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9 NIV

Read below how two congregations are sharing God’s goodness with their neighbors. Doing good is a kingdom value.

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Chawama, Lusaka, Zambia

In July, 21 youths from the Chawama congregation traveled to a home for girls in Chongwe to share the love of Christ. This was our third visit, and with hearts stirred by compassion and desire to serve, we put together our little savings, resources, food, and clothes to share with our dear sisters.

The foundation is home to 17 girls between the ages of 3 to 16. These precious girls come from painful pasts, many having faced the trauma of abuse or the deep sorrow of losing their parents. It is a place filled with young hearts in need of love, hope, and belonging.

After our first visit, we were moved by compassion and a deep sense of responsibility. So, we made the collective decision to adopt this orphanage as part of our Chawama Love Avenue. What started as a visit quickly became a calling.

We took it a step further by each adopting a sister. This personal one-on-one connection has allowed us to demonstrate God’s love in more tangible ways. We have been able to all pray for our sisters by name, and they do the same for us. It also allowed us to build a more personal relationship with each of the girls.

The impact of this has been profound for the Chawama youths. These visits have been a chance to experience joy in service and to share the love of Christ. We spent time playing fun games, sharing stories, praying, singing, and simply being present.

These are not just acts of charity — they are moments of connection and affirmation of God’s love poured out through us. We listen to their dreams, share laughter, and see firsthand how love can begin to restore what life has broken.

Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 1 Peter 4:8

Love is not passive, it moves, it acts, and it heals. In adopting this orphanage, we are committing not only to providing material support, but to building relationships, offering spiritual guidance, and being a consistent presence in the lives of these children. We believe that through Christ’s love, we can make a lasting impact. This is just the beginning of a journey we pray will be filled with growth, transformation, and greater things yet to come for both the children and us.

By Puisezo and Damiano Ngula, youth participants
Chawama, Lusaka, Zambia

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Belton, Missouri, US

On Sunday, August 3, the Love Avenue team of GC Belton hosted a Family Game Day and Back-to-School Giveaway. Our aim was to support the children and families of our neighborhood.

God provided beautiful weather, cooler temperatures, and warm hearts that welcomed the new faces that attended. It was a fun way to end the summer and help our local families get the school year off to a great start! The festivities included:

• • • A picnic-type atmosphere with a hotdog cookout and outdoor yard games.
    • Fun indoor games with facepainting, a cake walk, human tic tac toe, and music.
    • Prizes and school supply giveaways (backpacks, notebooks, writing utensils, etc.).

After our back-to-school giveaway, we have school supplies leftover. We will connect with our local school district to see if there are other opportunities to connect with individuals who could benefit. I’m grateful for our congregation’s generosity in giving to support the ministry of Christ.

I’m employed part-time with the Belton school district as a bus driver and was permitted to bring a school bus to the event as a way of promoting the giveaway. In addition to that, attendees looking for work were given the opportunity to apply for a job with the bus company.

To close the event, we provided a short ride on the school bus, which the children enjoyed immensely. This fun event was one of many ways we can serve our community!

Terry McDonald, Pastor
Belton, Missouri, US

In my early journey of faith, I used to wonder why doesn’t Jesus simply appear on an international news channel, like BBC? Surely, if the entire world saw him, they would believe and be saved. But the resurrection narratives gently correct that assumption. Even when Jesus appeared in the flesh to his own disciples, many still didn’t recognize him immediately. This prompts a soul-searching question for us all: If Jesus appeared to us today, would we truly recognize him?

The Gospels record resurrection appearances; each one unveils profound truth about Jesus’ incarnation, the nature of his glorified body, and the mystery of divine presence. A striking pattern emerges again and again — those who knew Jesus best failed to recognize him at first glance.

Mary Magdalene mistook him for a gardener. The disciples on the road to Emmaus conversed for hours without realizing who he was. Peter failed to recognize him on the shore of Galilee. Recognition came only through deeply personal, familiar encounters.

Mary recognized Jesus by his voice. The disciples from Emmaus knew him in the breaking of the bread. Peter recognized Jesus through the miraculous catch of fish. The risen Jesus is not always recognized by appearance alone, but through relationship grounded in trust and intimacy.

I am the good shepherd. I know my own, and my own know me … My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. John 10:14, 27

Prayer:
Father, we want to experience you in moments that etch your love deeply into our souls. May we seek a relationship so intimate that we recognize you, Jesus, without hesitation. Spirit, may our hearts be attuned to your voice and our spirits ready to receive you. Lord, grant us the grace to truly know you and to never miss when you appear to us. Amen.

By Praveen Chintha, Pastor
Hyderabad, Telangana, India

 

Citizens of God’s kingdom take very seriously their call to disciple and share their lives with children. It’s a high priority for us as parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, coaches, mentors, and friends.

Below we share a book review and recommendation. It’s a book for adults hoping to develop intentional rhythms of discipling young people.

(Please note that this is not an endorsement from GCI of the book or the author’s views.)

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Recently, I attended a gathering with a group of church leaders. One person described her experience growing up in the Church. Her parents had a strong impact on her life because they regularly talked to her about Jesus, church life, and their relationship with God.

It reminded me of how important parenting is in the disciple making life of a Christian. I recently read a book by David Sunde, Homegrown Disciple: Parenting Rhythms for Drawing Your Kids into Life with God, which I found instructive on this aspect.

These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on you children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Deuteronomy 6:6-7

At the conclusion of each chapter, the author gives very practical ideas on how a parent can enact the principles found in the above passage. These times are “teachable moments — or windows of time — woven into each day: dinnertime, travel time, bedtime, and morning time” (p. 9).

The author points to the relational way Jesus discipled a few to reach the many. “Most of Jesus’ recorded ministry was not in a classroom or even indoors. It was outside and part of daily life” (p. 11).

Sunde compares disciple making with sharing:

If you’ve been in a Christian context for a while, you likely already know that disciplemaking involves learning to share what you already have with the people around you. It’s learning to talk about the difference Christ is making in you, animating the life of Christ. To animate is to incarnate. Just as God took on flesh and blood to live among us in sending His Son, we also can become the tangible presence of Christ in how we influence others. We tend to think about disciplemaking as helping other adult believers grow in their faith, which is one accurate definition of the term. But we can also apply the disciplemaking paradigm to the role of a parent or guardian. In fact, parenting is the quintessential relationship for spiritually reproducing a living faith. (p. 2)

As parents and grandparents, we are to be living and sharing the gospel of Jesus. We can have such a positive influence on those closest to us. The author discusses the rhythms of disciple making with one chapter on each of the following rhythms: apprenticing, renewal, hospitality, community, compassion, generosity, and gratitude.

The book highlights various aspects of our Christian life and how we can live and share this life in a positive way — not only with family members, but within our communities. There are lots of practical ideas that can stimulate our thinking of how we can apply those principles in our unique situations. Perhaps you too will find it helpful and inspiring as you disciple the young people in your life.

Bob Regazzoli
Brisbane, Australia