Compassion Is Faith Going The Extra Mile
LightBreak is an outreach of Compassion Ministries at the Flagstaff Shelter in Arizona. Folks end up at the Shelter for countless reasons. Sometimes we’re in awe of the staff who work there . They meet the needs of destitute people in so many ways. Around every corner is a different problem and they go the extra mile to solve it with compassion.
The folks who made this an extra special day came from as far away as Buffalo, NY. Some donated money to purchase underwear and socks. A thrift store donated clothes. A local retailer gave a $50 gift card to buy personal items. The team of Compassion Ministry purchased and prepared a ton of food that provided up to three helpings for hungry folks. This was a significant collaboration with a heart-touching impact.
A lot of faith in action is easy to see through people serving, but sometimes a special request pulls us away to a more personal space. One of our volunteers is a young lady named Marlee. A man asked her to help a woman who was laying by a sidewalk in front of the Shelter. Marlee asked a team member to go with her.
We found the woman behind a blanket held up by a stick tied to a wheelchair. It provided shade from the hot sun. She was lying on a sleeping bag on top of thin piece of cardboard covering a wooden pallet. She had just been released from the hospital and was in pain and unable to do much to help herself. Marlee sat in the dirty sidewalk and began to minister and give comfort to the woman.
It’s one thing to pray for a person, but it’s another to back up your prayers with action. Marlee went the extra mile in so many ways. She entered into a discovery process that lead to a plan to meet the woman’s needs. The night ended several hours later with the woman, her dog and a friend comfortably nestled in a hotel room. Marlee will meet them again this morning to help them board an Amtrak train that will take her to a place where she can get the help she needs.
Marlee will tell she did all of this because of what she read in her Bible.
“My dear brothers and sisters, what good is it if someone claims to have faith but demonstrates no good works to prove it? How could this kind of faith save anyone? For example, if a brother or sister in the faith is poorly clothed and hungry and you leave them saying, “Good-bye. I hope you stay warm and have plenty to eat,” but you don’t provide them with a coat or even a cup of soup, what good is your faith? So then faith that doesn’t involve action is phony.”
James 2:14-17 TPT
We’d like thank the long list of folks who collaborated to make the seen and unseen acts of compassion happen. A kind lady from Flagstaff who always reaches out with clothing and financial donations. A people from Buffalo who support our efforts through online giving. The Northern Arizona Collaboration of Churches, Urban Hope Church, Youth With A Purpose, Sam’s Club, Coconino County Health Disparities Program and the Compassion Ministries family. Compassion is truly a many-collaborative kind of neighborly love.
Thanks for your time. Go do something nice for somebody. JLYASDW
The folks who made this an extra special day came from as far away as Buffalo, NY. Some donated money to purchase underwear and socks. A thrift store donated clothes. A local retailer gave a $50 gift card to buy personal items. The team of Compassion Ministry purchased and prepared a ton of food that provided up to three helpings for hungry folks. This was a significant collaboration with a heart-touching impact.
A lot of faith in action is easy to see through people serving, but sometimes a special request pulls us away to a more personal space. One of our volunteers is a young lady named Marlee. A man asked her to help a woman who was laying by a sidewalk in front of the Shelter. Marlee asked a team member to go with her.
We found the woman behind a blanket held up by a stick tied to a wheelchair. It provided shade from the hot sun. She was lying on a sleeping bag on top of thin piece of cardboard covering a wooden pallet. She had just been released from the hospital and was in pain and unable to do much to help herself. Marlee sat in the dirty sidewalk and began to minister and give comfort to the woman.
It’s one thing to pray for a person, but it’s another to back up your prayers with action. Marlee went the extra mile in so many ways. She entered into a discovery process that lead to a plan to meet the woman’s needs. The night ended several hours later with the woman, her dog and a friend comfortably nestled in a hotel room. Marlee will meet them again this morning to help them board an Amtrak train that will take her to a place where she can get the help she needs.
Marlee will tell she did all of this because of what she read in her Bible.
“My dear brothers and sisters, what good is it if someone claims to have faith but demonstrates no good works to prove it? How could this kind of faith save anyone? For example, if a brother or sister in the faith is poorly clothed and hungry and you leave them saying, “Good-bye. I hope you stay warm and have plenty to eat,” but you don’t provide them with a coat or even a cup of soup, what good is your faith? So then faith that doesn’t involve action is phony.”
James 2:14-17 TPT
We’d like thank the long list of folks who collaborated to make the seen and unseen acts of compassion happen. A kind lady from Flagstaff who always reaches out with clothing and financial donations. A people from Buffalo who support our efforts through online giving. The Northern Arizona Collaboration of Churches, Urban Hope Church, Youth With A Purpose, Sam’s Club, Coconino County Health Disparities Program and the Compassion Ministries family. Compassion is truly a many-collaborative kind of neighborly love.
Thanks for your time. Go do something nice for somebody. JLYASDW
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