Serving on the Grants Committee, I have had the privilege of being introduced to many ministries in Birmingham where men and women are stepping up to say, “Here I am Lord. Would You please use me to make a difference in the lives of people who are hurting and who have lost hope? Would you use this ministry to meet physical and emotional needs as well as to share the life-giving, soul-satisfying, hope-filled message of the Gospel?” They are taking the opportunity to serve “the least of these” by providing food, job skills, education, counseling, recovery programs, healthcare and temporary housing in an environment of love, while at the same time, pointing them to Christ.
The Lord continues to draw partners to One Hundred Shares Birmingham to come together to serve Birmingham-based ministries through financial grants. I have been challenged and encouraged by your generosity, prayerfulness, and resourcefulness. The Lord Jesus Christ must be smiling, because He explains in Matthew 25:40 that “…to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.”
We have all been entrusted with time, talents, and treasure and are faced with a choice – to invest them for the Lord or to spend them on ourselves. One of our OHSB partners, Anne Roberts, passed away in March. Anne and I have been dear friends for 45 years. She had a generous heart and was a lover of people. Anne was only 64 years old, but the Lord was ready to bring Anne home to be with Him. I am forever grateful that Anne had put her faith in Christ to be her Savior and her Lord. When Anne took her last breath, NOTHING ELSE mattered other than how she had responded to Christ’s invitation. It affected Anne’s whole eternity. People need the Lord. That is why I feel privileged to be part of a ministry like OHSB where we are helping other ministries not only meet desperate physical and emotional needs, but also point to the One who alone can meet their greatest need…. forgiveness of their sin.
Grateful for our Savior! Grateful for His Provision! Grateful for Changed Lives! Grateful for You!
Cindy Harsh OHSB Grants Chair April, 2022
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