Hebrews 10:24 challenges followers of Christ to “consider how to stir up one another to love and good works.” It’s amazing how personal obedience can have a ripple effect of community impact. Case in point: My friend Lance Manlove of Bay Shore Community Church in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. Lance had never been on a mission trip, until last year when, in obedience, he joined a team from his church in serving with Empowering Action in the Dominican Republic.  During that brief trip Lance learned personally what theologian H.A. Ironsides had stated long ago,

“We are naturally so self-centered that we are inclined to believe that the greatest happiness is found in receiving rather than giving. We all enjoy receiving gifts.  We delight in receiving praise, love and adulation. We sometimes imagine that if everything that our hearts crave could be poured out upon us, we would be supremely happy. But this is a total mistake. The happiest people in the world are those that give most unselfishly.”

But the impact did not stop there, as a ripple effect of obedience occurred, in regards to the number of people impacted through what the Lord did in Lance’s heart on that short trip, serving alongside the local church to impact their communities for Christ:

• Personally – as Lance allowed himself to be dropped down on his first mission trip answering, “Here I am. Send me” (Isaiah 6:8). The result is that he not only used his gifts, talents and abilities in those moments in-country, but he was also impacted by the huge need for quality shelter, and left desiring to formulate a solution to help others.  God implanted an idea that would eventually lead to a non-profit organization, established to assist impoverished island nations in breaking the chain of poverty through Christ’s love, by converting shipping containers into sustainable homes.
• Family – as his 3 small children have, not only supported their father’s new nonprofit, but also become actively involved in raising money for impoverished families in the Dominican Republic, by selling lemonade, with the help of their parents, at their church and to hikers and bikers on a neighborhood trail.
• Friends – as, after his mission trip, Lance went back to his friends and, along with Patrick Staggs, together they founded the nonprofit Homes of Hope, which collaborates with EA in providing housing through participating churches of the Abundant Life Program in the Dominican Republic.
• Co-workers – as Lance’s employer, Schell Brothers Home Construction, assisted with the prototype build, with many sub contractors donating materials and labor, and sponsored a 5K race this spring, benefitting Homes of Hope.
• Church – as Lance’s church supported the first container project, with the entire church, young and old, involved with the building, planning, and sponsorship.
• Community – as not only do random individuals stop and offer to help during workdays, but Lance has also been contacted by businesses, civic associations, schools and other churches regarding participation, nationally and abroad. A homeless shelter has even expressed interest in collaborating on a project to develop a container solution to local poverty issues.

As you can see, God can use the obedience of a few to impact many. We can see that same concept at work in scripture with the ripple effect of obedience of Jesus’ earliest disciples, resulting in the existence of the church today:

• The initial obedience to the call of “Follow me”…(Matt. 4:18-22)
• Continued obedience in the midst of persecution and struggle, stating, “We cannot help but speak about the things we have seen and heard…” (Acts 4:20)
• Strategic empowerment and capacity building through adherence to the call to “…entrust these things to faithful men who will be able to teach others also…” (2 Tim. 2:2)

Pastor John MacArthur calls for this ripple effect of obedience to continue, commenting on 2 Timothy 2:2,

“From Paul to Timothy to faithful men to others encompasses four generations of godly leaders. That process of spiritual reproduction which began in the early church is to continue until the Lord returns.”

So please pray for and financially support Home of Hope’s initial container home installation with EA, occurring July 31 to August 5th, in the town of Caballona in the Dominican Republic.

And let me encourage you to function in whatever role in the ripple effect of obedience God has given you, and, above all, heed the call of 18th century theologian John Wesley to,

“Do all the good you can. By all the means you can. In all the ways you can. In all the places you can. At all the times you can. To all the people you can. As long as ever you can.”