By Aleksandr Smirnov, head of the ELCIR Diaconal Department
We are happy to report that in this difficult pandemic period the ELCIR Diaconal Department has received around half a million rubles from supporters of our ministry for the aid project to provide our pastors and church members with medicines and food.
As we do social work in the church, we are joyful to see the Lord not only supporting our projects, but often giving abundantly as he cares for those who love Him. He doesn’t only forgive our sins, but also meets our physical needs in an absolutely amazing way.
As one of our church members has said, Christ comes in the guise of lonely and forsaken mothers with children, vagrant and sometimes weird people or people who are preparing to pass into eternity due to age or sickness. And as we serve such people, we can see His love manifesting itself in this world.
However, as we take care of physical needs, our ministry always proclaims that man shall not live by grants alone, but by the Word that comes from the Lord. A person’s life won’t change for the better without full communion with Him, whatever physical aid they receive.
I pray that in this Christmas season the Lord opens the heart of every church member for the love of our neighbor and gives all of us opportunities to serve them together with Him. Serve not only physically, but also by sharing the joy of the Lord standing by and not forsaking us as all things take place through His providence and work together for the good of believers, whatever trials they may be going through at the moment.