August article for Rehoboth United Methodist Church Newsletter

A Presbyterian minister and one of my favorite theologians, Frederick Buechner, said “The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.”

In my ministry with Habitat for Humanity, I have found that place. I truly believe that everyone deserves decent shelter, and with that foundation, people can build strength, stability, and self-reliance. Habitat’s mission expresses it well:  “Seeking to put God’s love into action Habitat for Humanity brings people together to build homes, communities and hope.”

Each year for over thirty years, President and Mrs. Carter have spent a week of their lives putting their faith into action, building alongside families in need of decent shelter in the U.S. and abroad. Last month I joined them in Edmonton, Canada for this year’s Carter Work Project, helping 150 families throughout Canada build and improve places they can call home.  (And while President Carter was hospitalized on Thursday of that week because of dehydration, he made a deal with the hospital that he would stay for observation overnight only if he could get out by 6:00 am Friday morning to be present for Devotions on the build site.) At the opening event, President Carter said, “Habitat for Humanity is "the best way we've ever found to show our Christian faith and practice."

Saint Teresa of Avila is quoted as saying:

“Christ has no body now on earth but yours,
no hands but yours,
no feet but yours,
Yours are the eyes through which to look out
Christ's compassion to the world
Yours are the feet with which he is to go about
doing good;
Yours are the hands with which he is to bless men now.”

How is Christ calling you to serve others?

I’m leading a small group to India in November (Nov. 11- 19) to build a simple dwelling there for a family. Perhaps that could be your call. (If you are interested in learning more, check this out: ). Or perhaps your call is service at A.C.T.S., providing warm meals to those who might otherwise go without. You do not need to go to foreign lands to be Jesus Christ’s hands and feet. Be still and listen to His call.