Is There Good News for a Suffering Mother and Dying Baby?

Is There Good News for a Suffering Mother and Dying Baby?

If we love Jesus, we will obey His commands. At least that’s what He said—that’s what He expects. Making it super-simple to understand, He summed it up for us into just one command. Love God with all we are and love our neighbors as ourselves. What happens when His disciples take the Great Commandment literally? I saw it in West Bengal, India.

Church in the House

We sat in a circle on a dirt floor in a small house.  I had the honor of listening to inspiring stories. They were told by Hindu-background followers of Jesus. They shared what each had been doing to spread the good news with their family and neighbors.

After some prayer, we listened to a story from the Gospels. A discussion followed. What we could learn from it?  What we must do about it? Soon another believer in the circle led us in a few Bengali praise songs. I especially enjoyed the authentic Indian musical style.

Next, someone else picked up some unleavened flatbread called chapati. He began tearing it into pieces. In Bengali we heard: “This is My body which is for you, do this in remembrance of Me.” We each received a piece as we continued to celebrate the rest of the Lord’s Supper.

The gathering ended in prayer. With the help of my YWAM friend who brought me along as a visitor, I thanked the hosts and said goodbye.

More Evidence of Loving Obedience

When this delightful visit came to an end, my friend and I walked away.  I heard more about what God was doing through the work of this YWAM-FM disciple-making team. I soon saw more evidence. These disciples were responding faithfully to Jesus’ command, “Love your neighbor as you love yourself.”

The team had recently helped their disciples organize and host a training event. The theme was simple health care training. One issue they focused upon was how to help a baby who is sick with diarrhea. Diarrhea is the world’s leading killer of children. About 1.2 million die each year. The mothers learned how to make Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS).

ORS requires clean water, sugar, and salt. It is simple to make and the ingredients are easily available and inexpensive.

A Desperate Mother, A Dying Baby

One day after the training, there was a knock on the door at the home of one of the trainees. She opened it to find her Muslim neighbor holding her sick, listless baby in her arms. The mother was in desperate need of help. It became obvious the baby was suffering from diarrhea which led to dehydration.

She knew what she should do to help her neighbor. In a flash, the clean water along with correct measurements of sugar and salt swirled in a cup. One mother showed the other how to make ORS.

Gradually they gave the ORS drink to the suffering baby. The two mothers sat together and talked. Soon the neighbor heard this life-saving skill was taught during a training event. Local people, who follow Jesus, hosted it. When she left her neighbor’s home she was hopeful her child would get well.

Another Knock on the Door

A few days later another knock came at the believer’s door. It was a happy mother with her healthy child. She poured out her heart, “Thank you for helping save my baby. Now I know how to do it myself. When and where does your group meet? Do you think I could come?” She was a Muslim. Her neighbor, a Hindu, now began following Jesus. God’s love—so practically displayed—overcame any barriers between them.

Share Good News. Be Good News.

The believers had learned a practical skill for dealing with a common problem. A problem faced within their families and within their neighborhoods. New believers were also equipped with other vital skills. They learn to share their testimonies. They became skilled at explaining the gospel. Everyday believers practiced sharing good news and being good news. Transformational Disciple-Making Movements like these are happening all over the world.

Want to hear more about transformational Disciple-making?  How you can get involved? Join a FREE Online Training on June 12th and 13th!  Click here to register or find out more.