Rick Warren Finds the Missing Link

For a time before I had my 2 little ones, I worked on the Red Cross disaster team. The big event that I worked was the crash of TWA Flight 800 that was on it's way to Paris from NY. I was there to supply food, medical equipment, physical needs supplies and an area for a well-needed break for the men and women who were trying to salvage what they could from the water - and recover as many bodies as possible. I was about 50 yards from the Coast Guard boathouse that served as a temporary morgue and I saw body bags being carried in and large pieces of the plane be brought to shore and placed on flat beds to be brought to another location. These men and women had a great need there and I was happy to serve alongside ANYONE else who would be there. I was able to minister to many of the men and women, pray with them and pray for them - as I worked alongside the Hooters girls who came to deliver lunch one afternoon. While I certainly can't stand Hooters, they atleast were there to help fill a need and I was happy that SOMEONE was there. If the churches will not step up and help with the situations that are out there, then we need to be willing to work with others who will - and therefore we also have a chance to minister to the others of other beliefs and faith. Meeting the physical needs in this world is not the sole responsibility of the government or other private agencies - the church should be involved too. And if other faiths are willing to come alongside and work with us, who are we to say "No - you cannot because we don't associate with the likes of you."? When I worked that crash site, I didn't care what faith someone had because we were meeting a solid physical need. I can't imagine being so closed to God's opportunities that I would refuse to do anything if it involved other faiths.

 

Any of the above.

Of course I was! I knew that the Hooters girls were going to be there the second day I was there. I was pretty sure that they do not have the same faith as me. I also was absolutely positive that not every one of the hundreds of people who were there those days had the same faith as me. While we were not pulled together because of our faith, we certainly all brought our faith there when we went. I went as a Christian and I ministered to others, sharing my faith and the Gospel. I was able to do the same with 2 of the Hooters girls and some of the others who were with me directly. What is the difference?

It's interesting that in the parable of the good Samaritan, Jesus showed that even those who are not of our faith can assist us in doing "good works". Did the Samaritan make sure the innkeeper was of his same faith when he brought the man to him? Or did he ask the man to take care of him regardless of the faith? I would hope that in a disaster, we could use our strengths as people to minister to the needs of others - and work alongside others who are willing to do the same regardless of their beliefs. What a wonderful way to share the Gospel with someone who we might not have a chance to meet otherwise! Oh, and poverty, disease and war IS a disaster.