It is a great privilege to work alongside ministries such as Joni and Friends. They had a team in the Dominican Republic this week with their Wheels for the World program, which is an outreach to the community, offering wheelchairs to those in need. Some of the recipients of the wheelchairs were from one of our partnering churches. Joni and Friends not only offers wheelchairs for the people’s physical needs, but everyone who receives a chair and their family receives the gospel message for the spiritual needs as well.

During the distribution, as I looked around the room, I saw a true picture of what a church is, and it made me think of Luke 14.

Luke 14:12-14
“Then He turned to his host. ‘When you put on a luncheon or a banquet,’ he said, ‘Don’t invite your friends, brothers, and rich neighbors. For they will invite you back and that will be your reward. Instead, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. Then at the resurrection of the righteous, God will reward you for inviting those who could not repay you.’”

Luke 14:21
“The servant returned and told his master what they had said. His master was furious and said, ‘Go quickly into the streets and ally’s of the town and invite the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.’”

I know the Bible says our reward awaits us in heaven, but ministering to those who have disabilities sure feels like a reward, because I receive much more than I give.

I see people:

-walking by faith,
-trusting God,
-loving unconditionally,
-living with the peace of God that surpasses all understanding,

all the while dealing with great hardship, and disabilities for themselves, a child or parent.

And when you say hello or ask how they are, the response is

“Glory to God!” or “God is Good!”

2 Corinthians 4:18
“So we fix our eyes not on what is seen but what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary but what is unseen is eternal.”

Gloria a Dios!!
Mary Anne O’Malley
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