We all have different talents. We know this; we experience it daily. It’s an incredible thing to watch different people with different skills work towards a united goal. The Word speaks to this concept by saying: “If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as He chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body” (1 Cor 12:17–20). St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Barrington, Illinois, and their recent mission trip to Belize provide a great example of this message in action. Because of your gifts to Concordia Gospel Outreach, we were able to play a small role in God’s work in Belize.
A Mission Trip with Many Parts
When planning their mid-October trip, the team at St. Matthew decided to serve in three focused areas. The three focuses would maximize what they could do while serving down in Belize, a small nation in Central America. Members of the group were used according to their talents, serving on the medical team, construction team, and tutorial group.
The medical team worked to bring care to those with issues ranging from heart disease to cerebral palsy. With each family they met, the Word of the Lord was shared. Alongside local men, the construction team worked on several projects for a new church building. They worked to build an altar, strengthen and add more pews, paint the walls, and refurbish the floors. With nearly three hundred school children, the tutorial group used children’s Bibles to improve reading abilities while sharing the love of Christ. “By God’s will, we were able to reach many people in the village of Seine Bight in Belize with His Word and compassionate care,” said Ed Hillard, a coleader of the trip.
On Mission with You
CGO was able to be a part of the work St. Matthew’s group did in Belize. Each day, the full team held a community Bible study. Each villager that attended was given a new Bible and a Portals of Prayer booklet. The villagers live in an underserved area and struggle daily. According to Hillard, this Bible study was an incredible opportunity to shine Christ’s light. “Through God’s will, many believers had their faith renewed, and many opened their hearts to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!” It’s incredible what can happen when the Body of Christ steps into a need.
This was possible because of generous people who gave to Concordia Gospel Outreach. With these donations, CGO was able to send children’s Bibles, new Bibles for the adults, and Portals of Prayer booklets. These materials reached the hands of those in Belize, and now we get to watch God do the rest. We know that the Word is living and active (Hebrews 4:12), and in Seine Bight, these Bibles and other Jesus-centered materials will be used to help our brothers and sisters worship Christ and spread the Good News.
Said Ed Hillard, “It’s amazing what God can do through committed Christians when we listen to His will and share the gifts He has given us with our brothers and sisters in Christ!”
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