It was a powerful week of giving. CRL members came to give off their resources and most importantly their time. We give you a picture of what it was like to be a volunteer during the CRL weeklong relief operations. From packing relief goods to driving around the metro to praying for church members and communities, CRL’s visitation teams got the chance to be God’s hands and feet.Blessed to be a Blessing: The Sunday Special Offering
Last Sunday Pastor VJ talked about birthing new lives. In order to birth new lives one must be willing to make adjustments, with time and budget. It was with this exhortation that Pastor VJ called for a special offering for those who were affected by typhoon Ondoy. CRL members’ generous giving yielded more than Php100,000 and numerous relief goods. Most importantly, such giving became seeds with which the visitation teams could plant the Good News of Jesus Christ.
Two Generations: Packing Relief Goods
It was a blessing to see two generations of CRL members come together in unity to answer to God’s call. Mothers came with their sons and daughters. Spiritual fathers came to support and guide spiritual children. No one was too old or too young to help in packing relief goods. The youngest volunteer was seven years old! Everyone—big and small, young and old, had the same heart.
God Allows Detours: Stories on the Road
There is a special place where individuals who hardly know each other get to interact and build relationships, i.e. inside a car stuck in traffic going to Provident Village, Marikina. There is also a way of reaching a community that has never been reached by government or by television network relief operations, i.e. driving around Cainta and randomly picking Barangay Marik as a drop off point.
It was a week of great humor and awesome adventure. New friends and unexpected places make relief operations more exciting. Relief operations became a joy as God allowed “detours” to reaching those in need.
Seeing Through Christ’s Lens: House Visits
Listening to stories is very important. It gives the story teller a chance to impart his heart to whoever cares enough to listen. To the CRL team members that were deployed to visit church members in Cainta, San Mateo, Marikina, and many others, it was a chance to get the heart of other church members. Visitation teams got to share in the lives of those who were affected by the calamity.
The physical world shows damage to physical property, but the Christian spirit sees the restoration that God can do. In the mud one sees dirt and muck alone. A Christian sees clay with which God can form new things. The world sees a physical hunger in the people. The Church of the Risen Lord satisfied this and fed their spirits as well. It was a time of valuable learning as CRL members shared stories of the extent of damage but were still joyful and very optimistic about their situation.
One Body: Networking with Other Churches
It is in these trying times that the Body of Christ gets the chance to show the world the unity Jesus prayed for. It was a joy to be able to bless various churches that were in need. Not only was CRL able to give relief goods to these churches but was also able to sow in the ministry of these churches to their respective communities. We believe that individuals in the communities where partner churches are based will be reached for Jesus Christ.
Pressing On: Continuing God’s Work
There are still a lot of people who are in need. CRL continues to give its members opportunities to help. Members who would like to be part of next week’s clean up operations are very welcome to be God’s hands and feet by cleaning up houses of church members affected.
We do not end in just giving relief goods to communities. Beyond the dole outs, it is our hearts and our Savior’s love that we give. We are in the process of identifying areas where CRL can lead small groups and eventually have small house churches similar to the early church in Acts. We will continue to do God’s work of Kingdom-building even after the flood.
*Special article for the Church of the Risen Lord bulletin (October 6, 2009)
Edited by Cookie Calaguas (who put up with the major dips in my brilliance. haha)
