I have to admit that when we first started working on our Greek Internet ministry, I never expected the torrent of email we have been receiving lately. When God led us into this ministry, He must surely have been looking a few years down the road to our present time when the people of Greece would be going through their own personal time of trouble.
Initially, I envisioned people emailing us mainly for Bible studies or books or to inquire about doctrinal teachings or prophesy. And yes, we do receive those, but more often than not, when I open the inbox, I find emails like these:
“My wife has left our children and me and has run away with another man . . .”
“I am 35 and have a wonderful husband and a two-year-old daughter. I am undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer . . .”
“I am severely depressed . . .”
“Pray that my son will get well . . .”
“My husband walked out after 40 years of marriage . . .”
“We are afraid we will lose our house . . .”
My heart is almost overwhelmed when I try to imagine all the pain these people are experiencing, only hinted at by their brief notes. As I sympathize with their sorrows, Mark 6:30-44 comes to my mind. In some minuscule way, I can understand how Jesus felt as He looked upon the crowds that traveled long distances to see, hear and experience Him. I can see His compassionate gaze filled with loving kindness for the throngs of broken people who flocked to Him for spiritual, mental and physical healing. Can you hear His patient voice as He explains God’s ways? Can you feel His gentle touch that drives sickness away? Can you imagine His joy at seeing so many hungry people satisfied? “He had compassion upon them because they were like sheep without a shepherd.”
It is easy to feel discouraged as I consider how little I can offer to these people I have never met. But God has called us to be like Philip who said to Nathanael, “Come and see Him of whom Moses and the Prophets wrote,” or like the woman at the well who eagerly invited her countrymen to “Come and see the Man who told me everything I have ever done!” These who had tasted of the Lord’s goodness were called to lead others to the One who is able to make a difference. Pray for us, that God will anoint us with grace to lead these needy sheep to the compassionate Shepherd.
