Acts and Love in Action: BGsEtAl 2022Jan/Feb; Vol. XXII Num. 04; For One…

Praise the LORD, we have reached the year 2022!!! We trust you had a blessed Advent and Christmas season, grateful for Immanuel and His love for each one of us. It only takes a spark to get a fire going, let us spread the love to everyone and pass it on, shouting it from the mountain tops, like the song says…

As we reflect on this term of service that began in 2018 and will be completed this Summer 2022, we remember many losses, including a former MPTer (Carolyn Haines in Jan 2019, left), the mom of an MPTer (Cori Catellier’s mom, Gayle Dunn, in Oct 2020, top right), and just before 2021 was completed, the wife of an MPTer (Lee Riggs’ wife, Lynn Riggs, in Dec 2021, bottom right). What did they have in common, besides being related to our MPT? They loved the Lord and cared for children.

Lynn was not only Lee’s wife for 50 years, but while serving together at First Baptist Church of Greensburg, Indiana, she was the founding director for the church’s preschool and kindergarten, which went on to become the Good Shepherd Christian Academy. We remember fondly a visit to the Academy and witnessing how Lynn was loved and respected by her students and their parents! She will be sorely missed…

Caring for the children is vital when we think of relationships and about discipleship. It requires dedication, love and a personal connection, one-on-one. We may feel frustrated not to have a broader impact. We often focus on numbers. Yet, Jesus came for one person at a time…

When Jesus called His disciples, He called each of them by name: Simon Peter, Andrew, James (son of Zebedee), John (son of Zebedee), Phillip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew, James (son of Alphaeus), Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot. His miracles were also one-on-one. Even of the 10 lepers, only one came to thank Him.

Jesus’ known female disciples, followers of Jesus, mentioned in the Bible by name, were Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Susanna, Mary the mother of James, Salome, and, of course, Mary and Martha. Later mentioned by the Apostle Paul, we find Lydia of Philippi, Phoebe, Chloe, the mother of Rufus, Junia and Priscilla. We praise God for these women and men that were called by name and made a commitment to follow Jesus through discipleship and service. So were Carolyn, Gayle, and Lynn. With them we also honor the memory of so many that have gone before us throughout this term to rest in His precious and loving arms.

We also praise the Lord for Belkis in the Guajira, Northeastern Region in Colombia. She and her church in Riohacha care for Wayuu and Arijuna (non-indigenous) children in several underserved communities. We are blessed that through the generosity of so many like you because, one child at a time, you bless many. Though we cannot share photos (to protect their identities), we rejoice with the change in each one and pray that with the love shared through food, clothing, and Christmas toys, many will get to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior.

Though Jesus came to save us all, each person needs to accept His gift individually. When He calls your name, just run out of your grave, out of the darkness into His glorious day. I needed shelter, I was an orphan, but He calls me a citizen of Heaven. We have a future. Our eyes are open. Because when He calls us by name, we run out of our grave! Is He calling you by name for salvation or for service?

Let us continue serving the Lord this 2022, preaching His good news, making disciples, sharing His love with all who still need to know: one person at a time. If we focus and pray for one throughout this 2022, and witness through acts and love in action, by the end of the year the number of disciples would duplicate! The Lord of love has come to me, to you, to us. Let us pass it on…

Stretching further toward the goal “for one at a time,”
your BGs Et Al

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