Ringing out with Hope

Scripture Reading — 1 Peter 4:7-11

If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ.
— 1 Peter 4:11

I often have the privilege of meeting creative and courageous leaders in different parts of the world. In Kenya recently, I stood on a tidy little property tucked between tall buildings in a small town outside Nairobi. It was once a vacant lot, choked with garbage and weeds, but today it is home to a lively school serving dozens of children. Two classrooms, fashioned from repurposed shipping containers, provide bright learning spaces, complete with washroom facilities and a small playground.

Lucy is the teacher God used to bring about this remarkable change. She had worked for years in another school system, but she had grown frustrated because she was unable to apply the kind of education she believed the children needed. One day her husband said to her, “If God has placed this burden on your heart, perhaps he is also calling you to be part of the solution.” So, in faith and courage, she left her position and, with her husband and a handful of volunteers, began to build this small school to offer Christ-centered education to the children of the community.

When I asked Lucy about her journey, she pointed to God’s faithfulness. God continues to work miracles of transformation today through ordinary people who have faith in him.

Dear Lord, may you find a resounding “yes” in our lives as we respond to your love for us and to your call on our lives. May all we do today bring you praise and honor. In Jesus, Amen.

Written by: Kevin DeRaaf