With so many changes in the past year, I like to notice things that have not changed in the communities I serve in the Philadelphia area. When awful things happen, we see God at work through people who care and lend a helping hand.
The pandemic caused many people to lose their jobs. With the help of Mosaic Conference’s Shalom Fund, Philadelphia Praise Center received an abundance of support for nearly four months. Every Saturday we were able to share produce, instant noodles, eggs, milk, canned food, rice and other resources to help struggling families.
Many people could not pay rent, so we invited members of the church to get involved in helping cover their needs. God moved the hearts of many to share financially with each other.
Sharing reliable information is crucial among immigrant communities where English is not the first language. Providing details about vitamins for building immunity, hotels the government provides for those who are COVID-positive, nearby COVID testing venues or affordable funeral homes became instances of sharing God’s love with members of our community.
Early in the pandemic, God gave me the wisdom to create a video of a conversation between Budi Saputra, an Indonesian medical doctor in Philadelphia, and me. This became multiple videos with accurate information from a reliable source about the state of the pandemic, early symptoms to look out for, and precautions to keep people healthy. The videos were shared by Indonesians living locally, as well as those who lived in other countries.
In uncertain times, prayer becomes the believer’s breath of life. Prior to the pandemic, our community held prayer meetings every Monday. These continued by Zoom. In early December, when my wife, 4-year-old son, and I tested positive for COVID, strength and healing were possible because people prayed for us. Every day they sent love and attention through texts, phone calls, Bible verses, and even funny videos to entertain us.
It brings me joy that we were able to assist Indonesians in Philadelphia and that larger organizations have blessed us with resources to do so. During difficult times when everything is changing, let’s focus on the things that have not changed, like the blessing of sharing.
Because of your generosity, the Shalom Fund has grown beyond our expectations this year. Together, we’ve raised nearly $185,000 toward our goal of $200,000, enabling Mosaic to respond to diverse needs for food and support, impacting hundreds of families through congregations and conference related ministries.
Editor’s Note: This article first appeared in Anabaptist World on March 30, 2021 and is reprinted with permission.
The opinions expressed in articles posted on Mosaic’s website are those of the author and may not reflect the official policy of Mosaic Conference. Mosaic is a large conference, crossing ethnicities, geographies, generations, theologies, and politics. Each person can only speak for themselves; no one can represent “the conference.” May God give us the grace to hear what the Spirit is speaking to us through people with whom we disagree and the humility and courage to love one another even when those disagreements can’t be bridged.