Ripple Effect

When people give of themselves – their time, their money, their energy – it’s amazing to see the impact. This past week I’ve witnessed such an impact, thanks to a selfless group of people from LowCountry Community Church in Bluffton, South Carolina.

LCC sent a team of 13 to Cape Town, where they have partnered with Living Hope to serve the Red Hill community in all sorts of ways, including health tests, meals, home visits, prayer, and men’s and women’s games and crafts.

Beyond that, they brought a considerable amount of clothing and shoes for a homeless shelter, medical supplies and cash for a health care center, and money for one of my Living Hope colleagues to build a living space in Red Hill, so that he can spend more time with these people whom he is so passionate about serving and helping.

The team is the face of LCC in Cape Town, but countless others back home are part of the effort as well. They have held up this team in prayer, raised and contributed money, and donated clothing and supplies. As LCC mission pastor Joe Friesen said, people here have touched by people back home who may never see each other until they meet in heaven.

I’m blessed to be here so that I do get to see the impact: out-of-work and hungry people being strengthened by encouraging words and prayer; 50-plus women packed into a tiny church, smiling, laughing and crying as they celebrate the truth of God’s love for them; a dirt-poor couple being surprised by a visit to sing Happy Birthday and present a cake to the husband.

It’s cool to be part of a church that fosters such an attitude of selfless service and Christ-like love – and to see it on display halfway around the world. Like a pebble tossed into a pond, these acts of love create a ripple effect that I’m confident will last long after this team goes home next week.