By Doug Eisele, COTHA Missions Coordinator
A calling to help
Why go to Uganda? Why go to Mexico? Why go downtown to Lord of the Streets? Or for that matter, why stop the car to give a care bag? God called, I had to say yes.
I use to worry, well actually still do sometimes, if the guy on the corner is in real need or a con man. Then a wise person reminded me that it is not my money but God’s. I am only a custodian of the money he provides. God will make sure that the dollar will go to use. God will make sure that mosquito net or medicine will be used to his glory! It is my job to be the person to say yes to our Lord.
God does not always call me to be on a mission, sometimes it is to pray, write a check, support others to make sure they can go or further their work. I need to remind myself it’s not about me it is about heeding God's call.
How does God call me? It has been through getting a feeling, people opening doors or “pieces of the puzzle” just falling into place. Here is how He has worked on me. I got invited to a mission conference about 7 years ago as part of a prayer team and was immediately dragged out of my comfort zone and exposed to what it meant to really answer God’s call. When we returned suddenly a Mission to Mexico mission was put in front of us. Turns out several other COTHA members were called to go and off we went to Nuevo Laredo. We have been supporting MtM with people and funds ever since. When the border violence got bad we were tempted to back away. I clearly remember a vision of the children lining up for food and no one being there. MtM still needs to exist ‘to do its work. So we still support. Whether you go or fund the effort depends on what God wants you to do. For Karen and I, He often closes the door on making the trip but He has made it possible for us to support His children. (Karen has her own MtM story)
Then came Katrina and New Orleans; Ike and Galveston and Uganda. God put people into our lives in a way that can in no way be construed as a coincidence. It almost became easy to get to Uganda. I think it is safe to say God put me and others at COTHA into a mission that was out of our comfort zone. The first year COTHA planted a new church then God wanted us to do something else. Many other U.S. Churches were planting new Uganda Churches but few were supporting the existing churches to help them reach out to the unchurched , hence medical missions and mosquito nets. Through this effort, thousands see a community Bible based Church help the community whether they are a member, a Christian or a Muslim. The event provides a forum to pray for people and to witness the hope of the Gospel to thousands. God has clearly called COTHA to do this work. It seems He wants us to do a little more. He has put on our hearts to provide measles vaccines. We will see where this goes. Perhaps you are called to help us?
God has sent us to Guatemala and now Honduras to drill water wells. He has given us the ability to have a spaghetti supper every Wednesday free to anyone who walks through the door. No strings attached!! There is a new effort called viaCOTHA that God is calling us to go out to help others in a more social way. Check with Mark to find out more as this mission finds where God is taking us. And this Wednesday another calling may have walked in the door, literally. A lady from Christ Clinic in Katy came to our Evangelism Meeting to start a conversation on how we can work together. Where is this one going? God knows.
I can’t believe where God has taken me, Karen and COTHA over the last seven years. I hope all of you reading this will listen for God to tell you what he wants you to do. If COTHA has its 500 plus members focused on what God wants us to do we will make a difference in a lot of peoples’ lives. Join me and the others at our Evangelism meeting on the 2nd Monday of each month. If you get the call, go on a mission with us.
34“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. + 35For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. + 36I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’ 37“Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? 39When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40“And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters,* you were doing it to me!’
Matthew 25: 34-40
A calling to help
Why go to Uganda? Why go to Mexico? Why go downtown to Lord of the Streets? Or for that matter, why stop the car to give a care bag? God called, I had to say yes.
I use to worry, well actually still do sometimes, if the guy on the corner is in real need or a con man. Then a wise person reminded me that it is not my money but God’s. I am only a custodian of the money he provides. God will make sure that the dollar will go to use. God will make sure that mosquito net or medicine will be used to his glory! It is my job to be the person to say yes to our Lord.
God does not always call me to be on a mission, sometimes it is to pray, write a check, support others to make sure they can go or further their work. I need to remind myself it’s not about me it is about heeding God's call.
How does God call me? It has been through getting a feeling, people opening doors or “pieces of the puzzle” just falling into place. Here is how He has worked on me. I got invited to a mission conference about 7 years ago as part of a prayer team and was immediately dragged out of my comfort zone and exposed to what it meant to really answer God’s call. When we returned suddenly a Mission to Mexico mission was put in front of us. Turns out several other COTHA members were called to go and off we went to Nuevo Laredo. We have been supporting MtM with people and funds ever since. When the border violence got bad we were tempted to back away. I clearly remember a vision of the children lining up for food and no one being there. MtM still needs to exist ‘to do its work. So we still support. Whether you go or fund the effort depends on what God wants you to do. For Karen and I, He often closes the door on making the trip but He has made it possible for us to support His children. (Karen has her own MtM story)
Then came Katrina and New Orleans; Ike and Galveston and Uganda. God put people into our lives in a way that can in no way be construed as a coincidence. It almost became easy to get to Uganda. I think it is safe to say God put me and others at COTHA into a mission that was out of our comfort zone. The first year COTHA planted a new church then God wanted us to do something else. Many other U.S. Churches were planting new Uganda Churches but few were supporting the existing churches to help them reach out to the unchurched , hence medical missions and mosquito nets. Through this effort, thousands see a community Bible based Church help the community whether they are a member, a Christian or a Muslim. The event provides a forum to pray for people and to witness the hope of the Gospel to thousands. God has clearly called COTHA to do this work. It seems He wants us to do a little more. He has put on our hearts to provide measles vaccines. We will see where this goes. Perhaps you are called to help us?
God has sent us to Guatemala and now Honduras to drill water wells. He has given us the ability to have a spaghetti supper every Wednesday free to anyone who walks through the door. No strings attached!! There is a new effort called viaCOTHA that God is calling us to go out to help others in a more social way. Check with Mark to find out more as this mission finds where God is taking us. And this Wednesday another calling may have walked in the door, literally. A lady from Christ Clinic in Katy came to our Evangelism Meeting to start a conversation on how we can work together. Where is this one going? God knows.
I can’t believe where God has taken me, Karen and COTHA over the last seven years. I hope all of you reading this will listen for God to tell you what he wants you to do. If COTHA has its 500 plus members focused on what God wants us to do we will make a difference in a lot of peoples’ lives. Join me and the others at our Evangelism meeting on the 2nd Monday of each month. If you get the call, go on a mission with us.
34“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. + 35For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. + 36I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’ 37“Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? 39When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40“And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters,* you were doing it to me!’
Matthew 25: 34-40
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