World Mission Souvenirs

Children line up to receive food at the slum village adjacent to Smokey Mountain, the garbage dump of Manilla, Philippines. Residents of the slum scavenge among the refuse to find recyclable material to sell. Soup and bread, provided by nearby non-denominational congregations, are distributed to impoverished children through Landfill Mission Church. What are the implications of what Jesus told his disciples regarding hungry people? When a crowd followed Jesus to "a solitary place,” Matthew says that our Savior “. . . had compassion on them (Matthew 14).” He told his disciples, “You give them something to eat.” Christian congregations in the U.S. stock church pantries for travelers in need. They contribute to community food banks to feed hungry neighbors. These actions are responses to our Lord’s loving kindness, his “compassion” toward us. They reflect gratitude not only for God’s gracious providence, but especially for the forgiveness of sin he grants us in Christ, our Savior.