Jul 25

Written by:
7/25/2010 3:13 PM 

Two years ago, I went to a church in downtown Louisville to serve at a Touched Twice free medical clinic.  Since I am not a healthcare professional, I opted to serve as an Advocate.  I knew that I would lead one or more persons in need through the clinic experience and that I would have the opportunity to share my personal story and faith in Christ, but I didn't know that I would leave feeling so blessed.  More importantly, I didn’t know that I would find God’s will for my life.  Just as with all Christ-followers, I have been called to love the “least” and the “lost” in both word and deed (Matthew 25, 28).  Although I could have passed that question on a theology quiz, the fact is that I just wasn’t doing it very often.

At around 10:15 that Saturday morning, the Volunteer Coordinator paired me with a man named Howard, an African-American man in his mid-50s, who I later learned was homeless at the time.  Over the next couple of hours, I learned that Howard had a family, had fallen on hard times and that he desperately wanted to find his way to God.  Although I certainly didn’t have all the answers to Howard’s questions, I was able to shine a Light into the dark places in Howard’s life, and to lead him toward material and spiritual blessings.  I was able to take Howard to a free medical check-up, to obtain a new inhaler to help with his Asthma condition, to see a dentist, to find some new clothes in the Clothes Closet, to enjoy a warm meal and to a new Bible.  Howard remarked that he didn’t remember the last time that he had a Bible of his own.  With Howard’s new Bible, I was able to point him to Jesus Christ, the One who wants to give Howard daily blessings, the One who wants to make “all things new” in Howard’s life and the One who suffered, died and rose again so that Howard could spend eternity with God, without the death, sorrow, crying or pain that is so often found in our broken world (Rev. 21:4).

I left this first Touched Twice clinic experience feeling blessed beyond measure, both through a better understanding of the gifts that God has given me, but even more, through realizing what God means when He says that He blesses us SO THAT we may be a blessing to others (Gen. 12).  When God blesses us, He does so because He loves us.  However, some of the blessings that He gives us are actually intended for others.  We pass along God’s blessings whenever we give of our time, our resources, and also when we give away our faith in Christ.  God has given all of us a mission to bless others in need.

So … I encourage you to step outside of your comfort zone and to serve as an Advocate at the August 28 Oldham County Touched Twice Clinic.  From experience, I can confidently say that you will be blessed as you give away some of the blessings that God has given you!