Each year, our ministry partner in South Asia, a local church, plans a special Christmas celebration for the community. They share the Gospel, the Christmas story, and a holiday meal. As the holiday approaches, they always face the same challenge: estimating how many people will attend and how much food to prepare. In this culture, running out of food at an event like this could disgrace the church leadership in the eyes of the community. A lot is at stake!
This past December, as the church service and celebration were about to start, three times the expected number of attendees filled the venue. It wasn’t long before our partners realized that they had not made enough preparations to handle this crowd. Volunteers suggested cutting food into smaller pieces and watering down the soup, but the pastor chose to follow Jesus’ example instead.
“We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered.
“Bring them here to me,” [Jesus] said. And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. Matthew 14: 17-21 (NIV)
The pastor prayed over the food, thanking God and asking Him to provide for the thousands who had gathered to celebrate. Just as Jesus’ disciples witnessed a miracle long ago, our ministry partners experienced one that day, too. Every single person received a satisfying meal and no one went away hungry.
In a culture that perceives running out of food at a celebration as a great dishonor, God displayed his abundant provision, glorifying His name in this community.
This Christmas miracle not only fed the bodies of those in attendance but also nourished their spirits as as the love, care, and power of the living God were displayed!
We are grateful for the generous donors who make these Christmas celebrations possible! Thank you for making a difference in the life of one more child.
