I confess. I am guilty. I made a quick judgement based upon appearances without knowing the full story.
My friend David received a call from his former pastor who was now shepherding a congregation outside of Beijing, near the Great Wall. He said that the congregation was poor and that many of its members could not afford Bibles or Hymnals and that the Church could not afford to purchase them. Did David know anyone who might be able to help?
My immediate response when I was asked, "Of course! We'll make it happen!"
So after trudging up the Great Wall and trying to share its incredible views with the team on a day when visibility was slightly less than 0, we set off for the church.
As we came down the street, I looked up and there was an immense church, one that stood prominently on the corner with one of the tallest steeples I'd ever seen. Surely THIS was not the church that we were going to...surely THIS was not the church that couldn't afford the $5 per Bible for the poorest of its members. But it was.
I confess, the thoughts in my mind and some of the words that came out of my mouth were probably not what they should have been.
We met the pastor and some of the members, and they took us into a meeting room in the church, and they shared their story.
The property for the church was donated by the local government.
The building for the church was paid for by a church in Beijing.
Many of the members of the church live up in the mountains, some without electricity and running water, and travel up to 3 hours by bus on a Sunday morning.
To help cover some of the operating expenses of the building, they allow other groups to use/rent space.
With tears they accepted blankets and sweaters that had been knit by friends back home. They will be delivered on home visits to members who can't afford the bus ride down the mountain to church.
They don't have ANY extra funds...for anything...including Bibles. But fortunately we did.
With a humble (and humbled) heart, I am glad that we received the call, that we said, "of course", that we have people who walk alongside Into the Field with their love and support which helped to make the gift possible, and that we are given reminders of how blessed we are and how easy it is for us to make a snap judgement based on appearances. God is good.
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