Concord-St. Andrew's UMC

The Way of Necessity

From a Sermon by Pastor Curtis Ehrgott, November 6, 2018

.... Back when Nancy Iden was going to college she gained a roommate and a life long friend, Sarah Wainaina, from Kenya. Years later Nancy was able to visit Kenya and see her old roommate's home town and the intense poverty and lack of resources for schooling the children. There was a necessity for things such as pencils, crayons, and teaching materials. A ministry was started on a shoestring to help the neediest of the needy. 

After 21 years of support that tiny school in Kenya went from last to first in county rankings. Business and government officials, graduates from that school, and are leaders in Kenya. We did this. Why? Because the Holy Spirit moves us to do this. 

Angela, the daughter of Sarah was here last Sunday. She witnessed to us the needs that still exit in that village. Angela implored us to offer on line giving for she has connections all over the United States of America who are eager to give to the porridge program to feed the hungry children, so they can focus on their studies. It is hard to fill your head when your stomach is empty. 

I asked our leadership team for permission to offer online giving on our church website this past Tuesday and got unanimous support. This is the way of necessity. This is the way of the Holy Spirit. We don't need to do this, we HAVE to do this. 

"Who was I that I could hinder God?" is from our reading in Acts today. Is there something extraordinary that God is calling you to do? The Holy Spirit will pop up when you least expect it. As Mark tells us, Jesus said, "What I say to you I say to all: Keep Awake!" (Mark 13:37) 

[...T]o give generously and spontaneously when God places an unexpected opportunity before us is the Way of Necessity - giving because the moment demands it, and because if we do not, the moment will be lost.