Each year, around Easter, the Spring Harvest Christian Conference partners with a Christian charity which is making a huge difference in our troubled world.
Last year their partners were Samaritan’s Purse. It was moving to see the work done by this charity to bring relief to many, for example, those in war torn countries or where storm damage has left people homeless.
For the next five years Spring Harvest will be working in partnership with a Christian charity called Mercy Ships. Their ship docks at a different African port for 10 months and its contingent of professional doctors and nurses attend (free of charge) to a steady stream of needy people who would otherwise have no access to such skills and care. Many hundreds of other volunteers provide the back-up needed to support this service.
At a time when some may be sceptical of charities because of the disappointing behaviour of a few, it is important to remember that, for the most part, many thousands of people sacrifice their time and money to perform small or great tasks because they are moved by a genuine love and care for people who are in need.
A huge number of these people live by Christ’s example, remembering that at Easter He led the way by sacrificing His very life so that our relationship with the Father could be restored and we too could be made whole.
The theme Only the Brave at Spring Harvest was based on the letter from James in the New Testament of the Bible. Here James tells us that true faith is accompanied by life changing action.
In his letter in the New Testament James tells his readers that just saying that they believe isn’t good enough. It should show in their lives, and he gives a couple of examples:
If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless. Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you. (James 1:26- 27 NLT)
So, it’s not about being ‘religious’, it’s about having a faith in Christ that brings about a change in us, which in turn benefits the community we live in.