Faith In Action
“What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, ‘Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,’ but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?” The letter of James 2:14-16
Report of our Food distribution on Eastern Monday
The cold and the rain, the wind, the hail the snow decided to test the sincerity of every volunteer of the AGAPE distribution on that Monday of Eastern. The national security restriction banned the annual Agape Festival for needy people but could not ban the zeal of the organizing team. They converted the event to a food and gift packages distribution, in the open air which just made it. Creatively and focused the team prepared for months, collecting gifts and food items among participating churches, organizations, friends, and sponsors. The day resisted the hopeful expectations for soft weather. Early in the morning, the tents were rolling away in the open fields of Park Spoor North while the storm threatened to pull everything away. At the end of the day, it only resulted in more prayer and more steadfastness.
Is that not the message of Eastern? AGAPE, the unconditional love of God that was willing to pay any price to meet up with the need of man. And how precious when it is not kept only in service between the four walls of a church, but takes shape in our lives through actions of love and sacrifice. Every volunteer stood their ground as a hero and served the needy guests with a joyful face.
Patiently, the guests were queuing to get their Eastern packages. The weather and their determination were also the best evidence of their genuine need. With gratitude, they went around the stands to collect all the things that were prepared for them with care and love. Their faces were shining.
750 packages were in total distributed, most of them on the day itself and a part in asylums and elderly homes.
About 2.000 people were reached, children included. “Can I be sure that I will go to heaven when my time comes?” was the question this believing young man could not answer. He did not know Jesus as his Saviour and Lord but gladly took a Bible from the table with gospel material at the end of the discussion with one of the team members.
Agape Church works hand in hand with churches and Christian organizations to bring the gospel to people and reach out to them, right where they are. The needy people are a priority target group. Jesus quoted during his first sermon in a synagogue, “The Spirit of God is upon Me because He has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor” The gospel according to Luke 4:18a
AGAPE food and gifts distribution was supported by Kingdom Faith Ministries, MMJUE, Philadelphia, Agape Church, Power through Love, de Wijngaard, AIPC, Gospel Palace and Koinonia Ministries.
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