OT: One Great Hour of Sharing

[Anrhydeddu]

Here’s a letter from the Executive Pastor of our local church. Food for thought.

The Apostle Paul wrote, ”And God is able to give you more than you need, so that you will always have all you need for yourselves and more than enough for every good cause.” God gives us more than we need so we can share with those who are in great need. We have the opportunity to give generously to those who have suffered severely from the effects of war, famine and natural disasters. For 54 years, One Great Hour of Sharing [offering on Palm Sunday] has been involved in helping meet not only initial needs following disasters, but also ongoing needs, long after media attention is no longer focused on the emergency.

As I write this letter we are at war with Iraq. One Great Hour is helping to provide antibiotics, anesthesia, IV solution kits, and clean water resources to assist Iraqi children, as part of the $1million “All Our Children” campaign. Thus far, one shipment of hygiene supplies for hospitals has gained entrance into Iraq. Other shipments are waiting in Jordan for permission to enter Iraq.

One Great Hour has also designated $230,000 to be used for Iraqi refugees. Relief supplies are being sent to neighboring countries such as Turkey and Jordan, which are expecting waves of refugees from the fighting.

While the needs are tremendous in Iraq, there are also other needs that One Great Hour is addressing. On Feb. 24, a major earthquake hit the remote western part of China’s Xinjiang province. More than 8,800 houses were either flattened or severely damaged, resulting in 39,000 homeless residents. A drought-related famine is sweeping parts of Southern Africa and East Africa. One Great Hour is at work in these needy areas of the world.

On the home front, $5,000 of the One Great Hour of Sharing offering will go to Ecumenical Social Ministries (ESM). During 2002 ESM brought help and hope to almost 10,000 families. In 2003, we will give almost $70,000 to ESM. This is in addition to all of the food we give each month.

As members of the body of Christ, let us join together to do what none of us can do on our own. All that you give will go directly to helping people who are in desperate need. So let us give generously with joyful hearts.

[GrantDawg]

Some of the best work congregations do are sending supplies directly to the most needy.