Missions often involve sending individuals and groups, called “missionaries”, to foreign countries or placing them in their homeland to spread Christianity. This involves evangelism and preaching of a set of beliefs for conversion and humanitarian work, especially among the poor and disadvantaged.
Missionaries have the authority to preach the Christian faith and provide humanitarian aid to improve economic development through empowerment, health services, caregiving, literacy education, and healthcare. As believers who have proclaimed Jesus Christ as saviour and Lord must, therefore, be involved in these mission endeavours in praying, sending, giving and proclaiming the Gospel.
1. Health Services and Care Giving
Health Ministry was one of Jesus’ missions while on earth. There are several accounts in the Scriptures where He healed many people of different ailments. The disciples also took this ministry seriously and followed their Master’s (Jesus’step. An example is the lame man at the beautiful gate who sought Peter and John’s help and got his healing (Acts 3 1-10). As a believer, wherever you are sick, to whom do you go for medications or counsel?
Health is important to our existence. In fact, without it, we will not be cheerful or wealthy. It is more important than anything else. Material things come and go, but our health is essential to our survival. We are called to the ministry of caring. We are there to give a helping hand to those who need help.
Health is wealth
A healthy person can work efficiently to earn wealth. The person who is not enjoying good health spends lots of money on medicines and consulting doctors. Such a person is never cheerful because good health itself is wealth. Therefore, we have to be conscious of our health. For us to maintain good health, we should always avoid bad habits like smoking, drinking and drug addiction. We should have regular morning walks, light exercises in fresh air, and a stroll after dinner.
We should not be jealous of others. We should always take balanced and nutritious diets. We should also develop the habit of cleanliness to stay healthy. Many people have been sent to their early graves because of ignorance. As individuals, we need to be sensitive to our body systems. We are all aware, “Health is wealth”, and if we apply wisdom to cleanliness, eat good food, and exercise our bodies, we will be able to prevent some sicknesses and live well.
Education from the pulpit
Pastors must find time to educate members of their church on health-related issues,ot just on health Sundays, but from time to time. The church can invite doctors or health specialists to deliver lectures or teachings on health issues that would be beneficial to the people. Also, the medical team of the church must be equipped so they can be of help to members who do not go for regular check-ups. It might be because of ignorance or lack of financial strength.
This, however, should not be limited to church members alone. The church should also give opportunities to neighbours around them and during outreaches. The church should include medical provision in its budget as well as encourage wealthy members to donate money to buy drugs and cater for other needs necessary to carry out this activity.
Refer to medical practitioners..
The church should not hesitate to refer any serious case of illness to a good and well-equipped hospital where people can be given good medical care.
We care, but God can. heals
Healthcare is a duty embedded in our church ministry – to help people in sickness, promote a healthy society through education and prevention of diseases. Human life must be our highest value because health is fundamental to life and leads to the creation of wealth.
Conclusion
The high level of poverty in this nation causes some people not to be bothered about their health. The church can be of great help in this area. The medical team of the church can make provision to provide minimal health treatment to people, especially during the Health Emphasis week. The health team can also organise medical outreach for people in the church’s immediate community. As they treat the people around, they tell them about the love of Jesus and pray with them. This is another way of participating in missions.
2. Providing Relief Materials
Whenever there is a disaster, whether natural, political or religious, it is the duty of the government to provide emergency shelter, food, clothing and necessary materials for those affected. However, what the government provides can never be enough; therefore, the church should join in this noble task of alleviating the suffering of those affected as much as possible.
When our Lord was teaching concerning the kingdom of God (Matthew 25:31), He made it clear that when we care for the poor or those who need help, we are doing it for Him. In other words, whenever we show love to the needy, we are doing His will. Therefore, in this section, we want to discuss how we can collaborate with the government and other charitable organisations to better the lot of those who may fall victim to any disaster.
What are the things needed as relief material?
Whenever there is any disaster, the very first thing to think about is to give attention to rescue, care and protect the affected persons. That is, an emergency accommodation, which may be a refugee camp, a school, or a town hall.
In such cases, things needed are mattresses, buckets, tanks and water tankers, cooking utensils such as stoves, pots, spoons, and plates for eating, plastic bowls of different sizes, for washing clothes and bathing, lanterns or rechargeable lamps, kerosene for the stoves, different foodstuffs such as yam, beans, rice, semolina, garri, condiments, like maggi, thyme, curry, salt, ingredient, such as pepper, onions, vegetables, palm oil and vegetable oil.
Also, there should be beverages, milk, fruits, clothes for all categories and genders, shoes, first aid boxes with routine drugs, insecticides, and mosquito nets. There should also be an emergency repair of electricity, bathroom, etc., where you intend to keep the victim.
Where can we come in?
As a Christian body, we should be able to perform better. Any time we hear of disasters, we should be ready to contribute food items, clothing, first aid drugs, cooking utensils, ingredients, condiments and money.
After gathering them together, let members of the social ministry unit of your church, association and conference take the materials to the camp and ask for permission to do the distributions themselves, such that the victims would not be deprived of the materials.
You can ask for the permission of the authority there to allow yoto u do medical routine check-ups because of the rowdy nature of the camp and give the refugees drugs. If there are any serious cases, you can refer them to the General Hospital.
Do not forget to pray and share the Gospel with them, and also encourage them so will not develop high blood pressure. When you go, make sure you go along with some counsellors, both young and old, especially teenagers’ counsellors. It is not enough to just send relief materials; the items must be properly monitored to ensure that they fulfil the purpose for which they were provided.
Be a good neighbour
Jesus once used the parable of the Samaritan to explain what being a “neighbour” meant. But how can this concept be applied today for a better understanding? As neighbours compelled by love, we must be shining examples of who Jesus is, what He stands for, and how He loves us.
We should all be good neighbours, loving others as we love ourselves. We may not have the opportunity to rescue a bleeding man on the street, but there are certainly other things we can do to show otherssJesus’ love and mercy during their trying periods. We can identify with them in their moment of grief.
Be your brother’s keeper..
We are living in a world that is full of disasters. There is a need for us to be there for our brothers and sisters in the face of unexpected challenges in life. Remember that the Bible says, “There will be terrible times in the last days.” (2 Timothy 3:1).
We have some responsibilities to watch out for and care for one another. This principle is seen as being reflected in Jesus’ admonition that loving one another is the greatest of all God’s commandments.
Are you your brother’s keeper? What kind of keeping do you do – nagging, controlling, criticisingparenting, rescuing, loving, praying, or encouraging? Today, what does it mean to you to be your brother’s keeper? Which of your relationships need strengthening, hearing or rescuing?
Conclusion
The government cannot do it all alone.. Jesus, in Matthew, told us to be our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers. Therefore, whenever there is a need to send relief materials to any area where there is a disaster, the church of God should not fold its arms; if possible, go there before the government gets there with their relief materials.
When caring for these people, the church must not discriminate; all ages, races, and genders must be cared for. That way, we will be sharing the Gospel through our actions, and God will be pleased with us. You can read further on this page.
