|
Help Me Make a Difference |
|
Written by Jodie Martin, researcher to Steve Webb MP
|
|
Tuesday, 26 February 2008 |
This collection of seventeen stories of‘ ordinary people doing extraordinary things’ has been written to communicate the work of World Vision. From Mark, a wheelchairbound sufferer of cerebral palsy, who sells chocolates to raise money for World Vision’s relief work, to Mapuii, a nurse in north-east India who cares for drug addicts and sex workers, each story shows how God can use us all to bring hope in the darkest situations.
The lessons to be drawn from this book are numerous and the short stories mostly speak for themselves. Although I expected a neat summary chapter of the lessons to be drawn, the reader isn’t patronised with one, instead there is a section with discussion questions at the end. For those predisposed to itchy feet and with a passion for social action it will give the desire to go and get their hands dirty. Remembering that mission and ministering to the poor are not only international endeavours, the book reminded me of a quote from John Piper: “you can either be a goer, a sender, or disobedient.”
God’s concern for justice and the poor leap outfrom every page of the Bible and The Hands and Feet of Jesus really reflects part of the response of today’s church to this. The message of the book is summarised well by a quote from Marilee Pierce Dunker, the daughter of Bob Pierce, who founded World Vision: “I believe that’s the yearning of every heart: ‘God make my life count, help me to make a difference.’ I think God’s more than willing to do that but it doesn’t just happen. You really have to seek it out and be willing to pay the price. To get out of the norm. Try something new. Do something uncomfortable. And if you’re willing to do that I think God will surprise you.”
Jodie Martin is researcher to Steve Webb MP. The Hands and Feet of Jesus by Clive Price is published by World Vision. For more information, contact the LDCF office.
|
