Pastors Take on Ebola Crisis With Meals and Message
The Ebola outbreak has created an opportunity for the global church to show God's love. That's why the founders of a Houston megachurch is challenging other congregations to preach the gospel not just in words, but in deeds.
Since Woodlands Church began in 1993, it has grown to a weekly attendance of 18,000 and built an extensive church campus north of Houston, Texas.
But strong growth, good preaching, and meaningful worship weren't enough for founding pastors Kerry and Chris Shook.
In our modern Christian culture we get so caught up in Bible studies and sermons and worship services, and that's important, don't get me wrong," Kerry said. "But it's more important to be the sermon, to live the sermon, to go out and be Jesus to people."
"Because Christianity is not a slogan or soundbite or even a sermon," he continued. "It's a relationship with the Savior, where he changes our lives, and we make a difference in the lives of others."
One Sunday last month, Kerry cut his message in half and sent his congregation to prepare food packets for Africans affected by the Ebola crisis.
That Sunday alone, church members packed some 280,000 nutritional meals to send to Liberia.
"And so our people, just by 30 minutes of packing food, were able to make such a difference. And what I say is if we preachers will stop talking for a little bit, we can get something done," he said.
"Be the Message" is a slogan worn by church staff and volunteers. It's also the title of the Shooks' latest book.
They are encouraging other pastors to follow their example and involve their congregations in hands-on ministry. They're calling Nov. 16, "Be the Message" Sunday.
"We're signing up churches all over the country who are going to cut their services in half on that day to send their people out to pack food and to make a difference, or whatever they feel led to do to make a difference in their community or in the world," Kerry said.
Other churches have agreed to participate, and the Shooks hope that this will spur a movement to engage believers in the needs of the world around them.
