On Saturday, May 2nd we distributed wheelchairs to seventy-six disabled men, women and children - mostly polio victims – mostly Muslims – at a celebration that included music, gospel messages, fellowship, fun and food! Chief, guest of honor along with his friend Arduli, listened with many others as Rev. Mike Henry told the story of how the gift of a wheelchair for Salihu, our disabled student at Hope for Little Shepherds, resulted in 200 wheelchairs given to the needy poor in Nigeria. I shared that in the same way King David showed great mercy to the crippled boy Mephibosheth for the sake of David’s beloved friend Jonathan, so God shows saving grace to us, crippled and broken by sin, for the sake of His son, Jesus.
One by one, our guests were called out, and assisted into their own personal wheelchairs amid great excitement and loud applause! And just as we settled the last person in her chair, the heavens opened up and a cool and refreshing rain, a wonderful shower of blessing began to fall – bringing sweet relief from the heat. We served rice, meat and pure water to our guests who enjoyed their meal sitting for the first time, not on the dusty ground, but on their own new wheelchairs – filled with dignity, respectability and joy.
As Michele spoke to our disabled guests of the real threat of pressure sores and how to avoid them, Kevin and other team members knelt before each individual, here adjusting a foot rest, there tightening a wheel. Faithful imitators of Jesus, they were in a true sense, bathing these poor, twisted feet.
Truly, the point of this wheelchair ministry was summarized very well in the chorus sung for us that day by the children of … choir:
“God forgave my sin in Jesus’ name; I’ve been born again in Jesus’ Name; and in Jesus’ Name I come to you to share His love as He told me to…
“He said, “Freely, freely you have received…freely, freely give. Go in my Name and because YOU believe, others will know that I live.”
There are at least seventy-six people in ….State today who know for sure that Jesus lives!
One by one, our guests were called out, and assisted into their own personal wheelchairs amid great excitement and loud applause! And just as we settled the last person in her chair, the heavens opened up and a cool and refreshing rain, a wonderful shower of blessing began to fall – bringing sweet relief from the heat. We served rice, meat and pure water to our guests who enjoyed their meal sitting for the first time, not on the dusty ground, but on their own new wheelchairs – filled with dignity, respectability and joy.
As Michele spoke to our disabled guests of the real threat of pressure sores and how to avoid them, Kevin and other team members knelt before each individual, here adjusting a foot rest, there tightening a wheel. Faithful imitators of Jesus, they were in a true sense, bathing these poor, twisted feet.
Truly, the point of this wheelchair ministry was summarized very well in the chorus sung for us that day by the children of … choir:
“God forgave my sin in Jesus’ name; I’ve been born again in Jesus’ Name; and in Jesus’ Name I come to you to share His love as He told me to…
“He said, “Freely, freely you have received…freely, freely give. Go in my Name and because YOU believe, others will know that I live.”
There are at least seventy-six people in ….State today who know for sure that Jesus lives!
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