Prayer for Joplin

It's crazy how one storm can do so much damage. After hearing the news and seeing the pictures, it's almost indescribable. This article from RELEVANT Magazine, however, inspired me: http://www.relevantmagazine.com/life/current-events/features/25716-real-stories-from-joplin It's so cool to see the family of God come together and reach out wholeheartedly to those in need. 

Two passages of scripture come to mind when I read this article: James 1:27 says,  "Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world." And 1 John 3:18 says, "Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth." 

The cool thing about these two passages is that the words "religion" and "love" are used as verbs; they produce actions, deeds, movement! James is telling us to visit the orphans and widows, and John tells us to "love...in deed and truth." I love how IgniteChurch.tv, Convoy of Hope, and all the volunteers stepped up and put love into action. This should always be our mentality when it comes to serving others with Christ's love: love that flows from doing something and taking initiative. 

So what can we do do help Joplin? You can make donations directly to Convoy of Hope, Red Cross, or WorldVision, however if you would like to purchase a gift-card to send to the victims in Joplin, we will make sure it gets there. Contact me, Allie Goodrow, or Dave Bos at Alternatives of Kalamazoo.

phone: 269.345.1740 ext. 11 or 16; 

or email: dave@alternativesofkzoo.org & allie@alternativesofkzoo.org

Let's put Christ's love into action!