‘Let us be the ones’ to give sacrificially
By Sheryl Martin Hash
Guest Blogger
Spring. A beautiful time of year as daffodils emerge with bright blooms, dogwood trees showcase their delicate flowers and – for those of us who live in the South – dreaded pollen arrives to coat everything in yellow, triggering our allergies.
It’s also the season we celebrate Easter, commemorating when Jesus rose from the dead following His death on the cross. For believers, this is the cornerstone of our Christian faith. Why not Christmas, you might ask? Well, the birth of Jesus Christ was absolutely important – but that’s not what saves us from our sins. It is God’s boundless love for us that caused Him to sacrifice His Son to die in our stead, giving us a path to eternal life.
So, if you’re searching for the perfect example of “sacrifice,” reread the sentence above.
And as followers of Jesus, we also are instructed to give sacrificially. It is not only an expression of obedience, but also one of gratitude, trust and love. Paul tells us in Hebrews 13:16, “Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.”
The Emergency Medical Fund
During this season of sacrificial love, then, I’d like to share a significant way you can give to honor the Lord. Julie’s Heart Cry ministry established the Emergency Medical Fund to help impoverished people get access to critical medical care.
As we ministered to the physical and spiritual needs of the ultra-poor, we discovered that the lack of health care services was rampant. Whether it was a cancer diagnosis that required treatment, a vaccine necessary for diarrheal diseases or a lifesaving heart surgery, these men, women and children suffered in silence. Some hospitals refuse to treat patients if they do not have health insurance.
It was heartbreaking to see ailments that could be cured with basic medicine allowed to go untreated … sometimes resulting in death.
Here are a few sobering facts:
The Central African Republic, where we do the majority of our work, is one of the poorest countries in the world. Approximately 65 percent of the population live in poverty.
It has one of the highest maternal mortality rates worldwide.
No access to immunizations and sanitation means treatable conditions like tuberculosis, typhoid fever and leprosy have life-threatening consequences.
Plagued by a measles outbreak since 2020, the country also experiences major malaria epidemics, which are the leading cause of severe illness.
Philoméne, a 50-year-old grandmother who lives in the southeastern city of Bangassou, has experienced firsthand how compromised health care affects disadvantaged families.
“I am a widow, and I have lost six of my eight children to disease and violence,” she said. “Most of my grandchildren are orphans.”
Philoméne’s greatest wish is that her family would no longer have to worry about food, clean water and medical attention.
“My grandchildren deserve a better life.”
Julie’s Heart Cry thinks so, too. And we know that meeting people’s physical needs is the best way to open the door to meeting their spiritual ones. The Emergency Medical Fund helps bridge the gap between poverty-stricken individuals and the aid they require.
Being the hands and feet of Jesus
When a woman diagnosed with cancer couldn’t afford the $150 for treatments, this fund allowed our ministry to make sure she received the care she needed.
It was this fund that covered the cost to set a young boy’s leg after he broke it trying to flee rebels.
And, when a young lady in our Youth at Risk program repeatedly suffered unexplained seizures, this fund made it possible for her to see a specialist.
These are just a few examples of how our donors are reaching halfway around the globe to be the hands and feet of Jesus to underprivileged communities. If we, as Christ-followers, believe in addressing the body and soul, then this Emergency Medical Fund must be paramount as we serve the less fortunate.
Brad Pitt, known to most of us as an accomplished Hollywood actor, is also an outspoken activist. I have admired his acting skills for many years; but to me, his most memorable words were not spoken in a movie. They were from his heart as he reminded us of our responsibility to care for our fellow man.
“Let us be the ones who say we do not accept that a child dies every three seconds simply because he does not have the drugs you and I have. Let us be the ones to say we are not satisfied that your place of birth determines your right for life. Let us be outraged, let us be loud, let us be bold.”
Let us be bold, indeed. Your financial support can mean the difference between life and death for someone fighting a devastating illness – simply because he was born into poverty.
Gifts of $10, $25, $50 or more will empower this ministry to be prepared for the next medical emergency. And you will have the satisfaction of knowing you helped secure a person’s future.
But most of all, you will be honoring the Father because “such sacrifices are pleasing to God.”
