When the gospel is the practical solution

If you’ve been around international missions or development work for any period of time, you’ll inevitably end up in the debate around spiritual or practical concerns.  And it’s a valid one.  Do we invest our time and resources into sharing the Gospel?  Or is it more prudent to invest in relief and development, ensuring vulnerable communities have what they need in hopes they’ll hear the Good News at some point through our work?  

We’re happy to solve this quandary for you this month at GCA! 

The answer?

YES! Both! 

Both are important.  At GCA, each of us is compelled to share how Jesus has impacted our lives.  Each and every staff member at GCA has a personal story (if not MANY stories) of how God has come to rescue us.  The love of Jesus is real and deep and personal for us. 

AND we are deeply convicted of the value of practical response when our friends and those we are called to, are facing crisis. For us, it is just as important to fill bellies as it is to fill hearts. 

Then there are other times where the Gospel IS the practical solution.  Let us show you.

Our Crisis Response Team recently received a call about a vulnerable young woman and her infant daughter.  They arrived to a very undernourished baby and a very unloved mama.  

This young woman had a rough childhood, which led right into an early marriage. When she became pregnant, her husband began a pattern of betrayal and soon abandoned her and the newborn baby. When this mom was unable to breastfeed her young daughter, her financial struggles became overwhelming and her newborn was at-risk of growing up as an orphan.

This is when we met this precious mom.  GCA began providing the right kind of formula for her baby: not the basic, sweet-tasting one, but the rich, full of nutrients one.  While this began to help her baby grow, the hole in her own heart remained. 

In her seemingly hopeless pursuit to be loved, she remarried a new man. To be honest, our team was not too impressed with her choice. The new husband didn’t seem to understand her needs, and maybe even unwilling to change to love her better.  He too, had endured a difficult childhood and brought those wounds into their new marriage with him. 

Our team began to pray for their marriage, and began working with each of them.  During one of our visits, the team shared the Gospel and about how much Jesus loves them.  The husband immediately brightened, and said he wanted to know “that Jesus.” 

Our next visit?  

Instead of harsh realities, we were greeted with fresh smiles and joy.  The husband shared with our team that they have stopped fighting and week after week, we are seeing the fruit of the Good News in this family’s life. 

You see, sometimes the Gospel is the practical answer to protect women and children.

As we walked with this young couple, we saw the Good News smooth out years of rough edges created by their own childhood trauma.  Where they didn’t quite know how to love or receive love well from each other, Jesus made a way.  They are now being strengthened every day, working together to care for their daughter... even today able to step off of GCA’s support as they are able to purchase food for their daughter themselves.  

Jesus is Good News for this family.  He is Good News for our GCA team, and the Gospel is Good News for YOU today. 

Reach out to us if you’d like to learn more.