Condition Critical: Voices From the War in Congo

Faith of a Mustard Seed

Last week my family was invited to the south-side of Chicago to the neighborhood of Lawndale to have lunch with some friends from our church, Dae and Esther, who live there. Lawndale has had a checkered and difficult history. Our friends both work in medicine and while both of them could have sought out far more lucrative careers in other hospitals, but instead they moved to Lawndale where they felt that God wanted them to be. We had lunch together and then they took us to the Lawndale Christian Health Center where Pat, one of the staff members, gave us a tour of the facility and share the story of LCHC with us.

I believe the most touching thing about the history of the center was the way it began. Pat told us that everything began with a group of students who felt like God had given them a burden for this community. Everyone around them thought that they were crazy when they began to share some of their dreams and visions of a church and medical center. However, they began to pray, save, and work towards doing what they felt God had called them to. They had a vision to see the Gospel lived out in word and deed and their faith led to amazing transformation within this community. As I stood in the middle of the medical center, which was a direct and tangible result of their faith, it gave me chills to think of what can be done when people listen to the heart of God. Today the LCHC provides affordable health care to residents who might otherwise go without proper care. Since it is a Christian Center they are able to meet many more needs (spiritual and emotional) than a typical medical facility might be able to.

Our friend Dae explained to us that one of the doctors who helped start the health center was working as a medical missionary in Africa when he felt like God was drawing him back to Chicago. He said at the time when he moved back to the states the quality of health care in Africa was better then the quality of care available for the residents in the community of Lawndale. How is it possible that in a country with such a high standard of living that we can neglect the needs of our own neighbors?

Today, not only is there a medical center with a workout facility and a gym, but the church in Lawndale is also renovating houses and providing affordable housing for residents of the community. The Gospel is being lived out daily in very real and tangible ways and you can see the direct results in the lives of people. I was truly and deeply inspired by the work and faith of the Lawndale Community Church, the Lawndale Christian Health Center, and of our friends who have taken seriously what it means to follow in Christ. I can only imagine what this world would look like if more Christians would follow in their footsteps.

"I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." -Jesus of Nazareth

Become an Investor

Kiva is an organization that provides a place for those wishing to invest in micro loans. These loans are often the difference between a life of destitution and of hope for those in impoverished and war town nations. Check out this video to see how it works.

Thanks to A Fresh Focus for pointing our this organization.

Forgiveness...could you do it?

Here is the trailer for a film called As We Forgive: The Story of Rwanda's Redemption

Christianity Around the World

Biola Magazine has an interesting article describing what Christianity look like around the world.

Pray for Kenya

We have some friends who are working as medical missionaries in Kapsowar, Kenya. I just received the following e-mail from them today requesting prayer for the whole nation. Please pray for Dr. S and his wife and family. That they will be protected and be a light of Christ in this tumultuous situation.

I wanted to update you on what has been going on here in Kenya since the elections. On Sunday (Dec 30th), it was announced that President Kibaki had won the presidential election. Within minutes of this announcement, he was sworn in at the State House to begin a second term. Almost immediately, riots broke out everywhere as people felt that the election was rigged in Kibaki's favor. In the past twenty four hours, throughout Kenya the Kikuyu who are living in other ethic regions are being hunted down and chased out of their communities or even killed. Roadblocks are set up by the local people all around Kapsowar, and passengers are required to show their national ID cards. If they are found to be Kikuyu, they are being taken out of the vehicles and killed.

A mob has formed here in Kapsowar and are demanding that the police captain (who is a Kikuyu) be handed over to them so that they can kill him. The police refused, and gunfire began to erupt all around Kapsowar town. The fighting spilled over into the hospital, as police
sought refuge from the mob within our compound. One man in the mob was shot by the police and he is currently undergoing surgery at our hospital. The police managed to disburse the crowd with gunfire, but we are afraid that an even larger mob that is angry about the shooting will soon start reforming. A military police unit was brought in to offer further support.

Right now things are very tense, and no one is sure what the outcome of all this is going to be. The community leaders are trying to talk with the mob to calm them down, but some are refusing to listen. Currently, we feel that the safest place is to remain within our homes. Please pray for our local situation as well as the larger problems that face Kenya. Our prayer is that a peaceful resolution can be found, and that the nation can begin healing from this horrible tragedy that is ongoing. Pray that God would change the hearts of the people and that the peacemakers will prevail.

World Insight: Lagos, Nigeria

I was captivated by this brief look at life in Lagos.

God Grew Tired of Us

This weekend I watched the documentary God Grew Tired of Us. It is the amazing story of the "lost boys" in Sudan who fled their country because of civil war and systematic killings and follows the story of a handful that made it to the USA. It was very well done and shows not only their struggle to live in a foreign culture (the USA), but is inspiring to see them live their lives with a passionate and untiring desire to serve others. This is definitely a must see.