Blog: Max Dawson
March 31, 2016
Three of us from the Dowlen Road Church recently completed our trip to Africa. We were gone 24 days, working in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Botswana. We had opportunity to see, firsthand, the terrible drought conditions in those three countries.
South Africa had a 60% crop failure in the growing season just ended. It was worse in Zimbabwe and Botswana. The maize (corn) crop that provides the daily staple for our brethren was virtually non-existent. While we left sufficient funds to provide food for our brethren for the next month and a half, the ongoing need for the remainder of this year is great. While at least one other congregation that I know of plans to send relief, the Dowlen Road church intends to make a special effort to assist the needy among the saints in those countries.
In just two weeks from this Sunday coming, our congregation will take up a special collection for this purpose. The date of the collection will be April 17. All funds collected in excess of our normal weekly budget will be devoted to assisting the needy among the saints.
Many of those in need are elderly widows. Unless they have family to assist them (and most do not), they have no means by which to procure food. Also, nursing mothers have a particularly great need. Without adequate food, they produce no milk, and thus their babies suffer. The other young children of Christians also present a critical need. When children are malnourished, they fail to grow and develop as they should.
Recognizing these needs, the Dowlen Road shepherds urge all the members of the congregation to participate in this collection. We are asking that individuals give over and above their normal contribution.
Our congregation has always risen to meet special needs. The brethren here have always been very generous when it comes to helping needy saints. At the last collection we did for something like this–which was years ago–the brethren sent $14,000 to assist our brethren in the Philippines who were victims of a typhoon.
I am sure the congregation will rise to the occasion once again.
THE FINAL WORD
Sometimes brethren wonder if such a collection is authorized by the word of God. Indeed it is. Else we would not do it. Take the time to look at the following passages where the early church did exactly as we are doing.
. A collection was garnered to send relief to the brethren.
. A contribution was made for the poor among the saints.
. This collection was for needs among the saints in Jerusalem.
. The gift was for the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.
There are a number of other such passages which authorize the local church to take up such a collection from its members and to send those funds to needy saints in other places. But these should suffice.
I hope this gives us some understanding on this matter.
Blessings,
–Max