Ministering Dignity - Holistic Spirituality

We're in a season of hosting a number of short term teams from overseas who are coming to minister here. We're often asked if groups of people coming into a new culture can really do much good in 2-3 weeks. We always say emphatically "yes!!" Recently we had a small example of what can be done.

We live near a wonderful HIV/Aids ministry/hospice called Living Hope. Some of the young ladies on one of the teams went to the hospice one day. They planned to give manicures and pedicures to all the women in the hospice.

They had noticed one lady in particular who was always quiet and withdrawn, always sad. After she'd received her manicure and pedicure, they were quite stunned to see her dancing around and quietly singing to herself. As they listened closely, they realized she was singing over and over - "today I'm a lady!"

If all of the teams came and only touched this one life - it would be so worth it! For a few hours/days, they ministered beauty and dignity to this suffering woman.

Some people define spiritual ministry as only taking place when someone is praying or preaching. We believe it's an act of worship to Jesus to serve those with AIDS and minister to the poor in whatever loving, serving, encouraging, or practical way we can.

"Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me." Matt. 25:40