Message Magazine Online - Vol. 56, No. 01, Winter 2008

In This Issue

• Editorial
  Angela Shuff
• Canadian Editorial
  David W. Smith
• Loving with Rice, Corn, and Blankets
  Angela Shuff
• Compassion in Action Around the World
  Becky Davey
• More Than Words
  Bill Commons
• Building a Hospital Together
  Pastor Rodger McCarthy
• A Little House with a Big Heart
  Mary Lou Brownell
• Plans to Stem the Tide in Togo
  Brenda Mastin
• CLIPS
• Our Hands Follow Our Hearts
  Spencer Jackson
• Funny Furlough Moment
  Shane Latham
• Children’s Corner
  Jim Cook
• A Portrait of Love in a Time of Pain
  Michael G. Loftis

Canadian Editorial

David W. Smith, Executive Director, ABWE Canada

Recently, a Canadian Christian foundation rejected a grant proposal from ABWE Canada because we were deemed to not be holistic. Holistic means ministering to the whole person, both body and soul. I am contemplating a visit to the leadership of this foundation to present to them the many holistic ministries we undertake. We are primarily an evangelism and church-planting mission, but I believe they have an inaccurate impression of us.

We must not allow a dichotomy between the spiritual and the physical. Jesus’ example of caring for the poor and needy showed that He loved the whole person— body and soul. With His hands, He healed the body, and with His Word and sacrificial death, He healed the soul eternally. His resurrection conquered the physical death that doomed the sinner’s body and soul. Of course, it does not make sense to minister to people’s temporal bodies without the goal of seeing them eternally saved. Both evangelism and social action are exemplified in the New Testament. Compassion for the sick and poor is necessary in order for us to show the love of God (1 John 3:17). How can we say we are Christians while ignoring the physical, mental, and emotional needs of our neighbor?

ABWE began with our first missionary, Dr. Thomas, in the Philippines. He refused the instruction by his former mission to spend his time on medicine at the expense of evangelism. Instead he became the first missionary to be sent by ABWE, and his goal was the holistic ministry of healing and preaching the Word of God. A total of five hospitals were started by ABWE in the Philippines, and around these hospitals hundreds of churches were planted. Other examples of compassionate ministry in our history are hospitals in Bangladesh, Brazil, The Gambia, and Togo; micro-enterprise in Africa, Kosovo, and Bangladesh; and ministry to the blind and physically handicapped in Togo and Bangladesh respectively.

Our ultimate goal is to obey the Great Commission by sharing the good news that Jesus has won the victory over sin, death, hell, and Satan. While we share, we can also bring a cup of water to those who thirst.

David Smith
President
ABWE Canada