Hey everyone. I pray you are all doing well.
Wow! Who, besides God, knew our country and world would be turned upside down and life as we knew it would change so suddenly within a week? These are indeed crazy times, uncharted waters. However, Jesus told us the world would become like this as His Second Coming draws closer.
I would like to encourage everyone not to panic. Don't fear. Trust Jesus. Use the wisdom He gives you but show His peace in the midst of chaos. God will use that to reach the lost with the Gospel.
God gives us so many scripture verses about fear and anxiety. Here are a couple:
Isaiah 41:10, “fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
1 Peter 5:6-7, “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time He may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you.”
Instead of constantly watching or reading the news about COVID-19, read God’s Word. We find peace in Christ alone.
Use wisdom at all times, and especially during times like this, but don’t live in fear.
I want to take a few moments to update you on Love In Action and what we are doing during these times of uncertainty due to the coronavirus and its impacts.
As of now, things are as usual at Love In Action. Obviously, the situation is fluid, but we have not and do not intend to cancel any of our services and outreaches. We are different than a regular house of worship. Most of the people we serve don’t have homes, and those who do rarely have enough food to sustain themselves and their families.
The homeless depend on us. They can't live stream sermons, go to stores and buy everything on the shelves, or afford health care.
More than at any time in our 20 years of ministry, we need to continue serving. Our homeless friends need to see Christ in us, especially during these chaotic times when so many people are just thinking about themselves.
Christianity is not a self-preservation religion. Jesus clearly showed us that. His disciples and the apostles showed us that. If not for Christians, many more would have died during the black plague. It was the Body of Christ who ran into the infected areas to help, not away from it.
We are and will continue to use wisdom. We are asking our elderly volunteers to take the next few weeks off, or longer, and then return when things settle down. We love you and want you to stay safe.
All of our volunteers please know you have the same option. If you feel uncomfortable, not safe, please stay home until things settle down. We love you all.
We always keep things clean and sanitized at Love In Action. We are focusing even more on that now and cleaning and sanitizing even more. Hopefully we will be able to purchase more disinfectant spray and wipes in the near future when stores restock.
Our chief of staff at the Samaritan Clinic has put policies in place on how to take care of anyone we see who have symptoms of the coronavirus. We will abide by those policies even on non-clinic days.
We have signs in all restrooms reminding people to wash their hands and how to wash their hands. One thing I personally won't stop doing, however, is hugging our friends. They can't go home and get a hug from a spouse, child or parent. We all need hugs, so they will continue to get them from me. That’s my choice.
God has called Martha and me to this ministry, and we will continue it in any and every way possible to show forth the love of Christ and lead people to Him, and to help meet the needs of those who are the most vulnerable.
We will look for opportunities to do more. I see this chaotic situation as a great "opportunity." We have a tremendous opportunity to reach even more people with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We have a wonderful opportunity to show the "least of these" that God does not and will not abandon them, even while our world is in chaos.
I believe this is a huge wake up call for the Body of Christ. Are we going to live by faith or fear? Are we going to trust Jesus or not? Will we arise and let the light and peace of Jesus radiate through us, or will we live like the rest of the world? We have the perfect opportunity to obey God's Word in Philippians 2:3-4, "Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others."
Let’s all be like the prophet Isaiah, “And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.”
I talked on the phone Saturday with Dothan Mayor Mark Saliba to let him know we are willing and able to help the city anyway we can, and I will look for more opportunities to serve to show the love of Jesus to people in Dothan.
Please keep praying and supporting us financially. Please continue to encourage others to pray and support us financially. We will need even more resources now as needs will be increasing. I know God will provide and He will be glorified as more and more people come to Him.
Thank you, and may God bless you all.
In His service,
Ken Tuck
President
Love In Action International Ministries
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