The Jesus film comes to life in Haiti

We at Mission Direct have never been afraid to openly proclaim our faith while we offer practical help. But sometimes when people are facing the very worst poverty I wonder if they are really going to want to hear stories about Jesus. Thankfully my week in a village near Dessailes in Haiti reminded me of how those two things work together best.

It was challenging to meet so many very hungry people; it was a couple of weeks before harvest and food had run out.  The team showed the Jesus film and it received a positive response. It may seem strange to us, but the terrible suffering Haitians have been through has renewed their interest in and passion for God. Three days later we returned to undertake a food distribution. We provided packages of beans, rice, sugar fish and oil for 60 families. At the end of the distribution the pastor took me to one side:  “A few days ago you brought the message of hope through the Jesus film. You then lived it out by feeding the hungry and caring for widows and orphans, just as God called us to do”

The appeal of Jesus the man crosses boundaries; stories of how he healed, taught, forgave and multiplied food seem to have a universal appeal. But as humans we want more than to hear about love and compassion; we want to feel it coming from other people, to see it in action before our eyes. We weren’t able to multiply our basic supplies, but it did multiply the power of the gospel message – God has a passionate concern and compassion. When we share his concern, that message of compassion comes to life and makes sense to so many more people.