The Energizer Church

The bad news keeps coming and coming and coming from the American Midwest. Rivers are cresting at levels higher than forecast. Levees and dams are being threatened. Homes, schools, and businesses are being inundated and washed away.

But here in the real world, relief agencies say that the rest of us have "donor fatigue." You might not know the term, but you can probably guess the definition: we're weary of giving. When the cyclone struck in Myanmar, it was easy to think "Just yesterday I was giving to Thailand! What's wrong with these people anyway?" Then the massive earthquake leveled schools and cities in China. One could easily say, "That's too bad, but I've already given to another international disaster at the office this week!"

Now the floodwaters are raging in the American heartland, but the milk of human kindness has run dry in the American heart. The Red Cross is out of money. Samaritan's Purse reports that even as the need for relief teams is growing massively, some teams that were scheduled have actually fallen through. There is this overwhelming need for volunteers and money, but the rest of us are completely focused on vacations, the frustrating presidential campaign, the rising price of gasolene.

The Holy Spirit gave me a serious case of conviction this week-end. He called to mind that old familiar scripture, "Do now grow weary in well doing, for in due time you will reap if you faint not." It occurs to me that I'm not really weary. I haven't sacrificed that much for the needs of the world. I'm just comfortable and distracted.

So I've asked the Lord and some of our guys to help me. We're putting together a relief trip to the Midwest ASAP. We're already collecting groceries to be distributed to local folks who have run out of money in recent weeks. We're looking at our next trip to Zimbabwe in the Fall. That's not a lot, but at least it's a start.

Everybody's seen the cool bunny with the drum who keeps going... and going... and going. God is calling churches to outlast that little varmint! Are you down with it?