Update: Get the Word Out

If you are a regular reader of this blog, you may recall Karen Smith and a missionary organization which she started called Get the Word Out, Inc.  I first introduced you to GTWO in March of 2010 in a post that included the following story from Kenyan national news:


I also wrote a post back in October which chronicled the story of how they had helped save the life of a little girl named Esther who was suffering from cancer, and were attempting to do the same for an 18-year-old young man named Koech, who literally had only weeks left to live if untreated.

Long story, short, Koech has since successfully undergone treatment for his cancer, and returned this week to Africa with a team from GTWO.  I just received an email from Karen's husband Mike, with the following information:

God richly blessed the Get The Word Out team on the trip to Koech's home village, and the trip to Uganda. Want to know how excited the villagers in Kasae were to receive Koech, the 18-year-old who was dying when he left them last November for treatment in St. Louis? They actually posted a child as a "lookout," and when the child saw the team's vehicles approaching the village, he ran back to alert everyone. About 50 women ran out to the vans, and were jumping up and down, clapping and shouting for joy, when they got to them. The women danced alongside as the team drove to the edge of the village, where hundreds of people were waiting to see Koech and to welcome him in celebration. Karen said Koech's mother, Dorcas, was "beaming, just so happy" that her son had returned healthy.

As I read the email, I had the following thoughts:

First, what an amazing thing it is that as a result of Karen's love for Christ and her obedience to his command that we love others, two children on the edge of death have been restored to health and to their parents.  I am reminded of the many times in Scripture that we read of Jesus healing people (even those who were dead) and restoring them to their families.

I also couldn't help but think of the story of the woman living in Joppa who (like Koech's mother) was named Dorcas.  In Acts 9:36-43 we read that she became ill and died.  The disciples there called for the Apostle Peter who came and, by the power of the Holy Spirit, raised her from the dead.  "And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord."

What a joy it is to see the Body of Christ still bringing health and life to the sick and dying.  We have no idea the degree to which the Lord might use this to draw countless others to himself, but we do know that sickness is a result of the Fall and that death is our ultimate enemy (1 Corinthians 15:26). The ultimate "death of death" of course comes only through Christ's work on the cross, but as we work to bring both physical and spiritual healing and life to others, we are surely imaging the one who is our Savior!

Second, the scene that Mike described of the "lookout," the people going out to meet the vans, and then dancing in celebration as they followed them back to the village reminded me of the return of Christ.  We too are to be watchful as we await the coming of the Lord (Matthew 24:36-44).  We are further told about this in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17: "For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord."

According to the ESV Study Bible, the Greek term translated here as "to meet" (and similarly used in other places such Matthew 25:6 and Acts 28:15) "is often used of an important dignitary's reception by the inhabitants of a city, who come out to greet and welcome their honored guest with fanfare and celebration, then accompany him into the city."  Sound familiar?

May we all be watchful as we await our Lord's return.  And as we do, may our lives be lived in such a way that as we interact with others, they might celebrate his presence in us!