At First Hillsville United Methodist Church we are putting our words into action. Today’s devotion is one example of what we have decided as a church to do to reach out. 1st Hillsville is beginning a Sunday School Class at Wheatland Assisted Living center here in Hillsville. As a matter of fact this facility is our next door neighbor and we have several church members who are residents of Wheatland. It is my prayer this is only the beginning as this is not the only facility in our community but one of many. We have the potential of reaching out to many people who are not only residents but reaching their families as well.
I am anxious to share with people other things that 1st Hillsville is doing but I also want to hear from others.
Ronnie
Day 34 – March 28, 2010
Caring and Witnessing to Those Often Forgotten
“How many invalids have we been to see? I think that one of the things we ought to do is to visit the
people who are not able to come to church. We make a rather big to-do over those that do come to
church, but sometimes for months we neglect the people who cannot come.” (Prophetic Evangelist:
The Living Legacy of Harry Denman, 1993)
Matthew 25: 37-40 (TNIV)
“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and
give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and
clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
40”The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and
sisters of mine, you did for me.’”
One of the most painful experiences in life would have to be when a person comes to the point in life
when they can no longer live independently; that time when a person has to go into a care facility that,
although it is a good place, is not home.
Not only do these folks have to leave the comfort of a place they have called home and their familiar
surroundings, they also lose their ability to attend church as they have done so often for many years.
Why don’t we do something for the least of these?
Why don’t we take the church to them? Why not start a weekly Bible study in a local rest home? Why not
send a church member each week to teach a Sunday school class at the place they now call home? Maybe
this would even help to make this good place a great place, a place where they still find Christ.
When we do this, we will even find those for whom Christ died who have never made a commitment to
Him; even at the stage in life in which they find themselves dependent on others, they can find
dependence on Christ for salvation.
Prayer
Father, give us a burden for those who are the least of these. They are all around us, in facilities, often
forgotten in the rush of our busy lives. Help us to enrich the lives of those who have in the past enriched
the lives of so many, and help us to enrich the lives of those who have never heard or trusted in You. Help
us to take action in the name of Christ. Amen.
Submitted by: Rev. Ronnie G. Collins
