Newsletter Updates
» christmas letter, 2003
Saturday, December 13, 2003 - What a wonderful time of year to reflect on God’s gift to us— His Son. After Jesus had designed the universe, and fashioned its blue and green jewel, earth, he gave mankind the free will to make a mess of things. Then he emptied himself of all his kingly status and chose to be born a human being in a humble stable. He was born to die for us, but first showed us how to live. The story never gets old, for it reaches down and inspires and enables us to live in a way that the world can barely understand. God gave us what we did not deserve in order that we could spread his light and demonstrate His love to others.
The Zarephath Health Center has been open since mid September. We have already seen how God is using it to demonstrate his care. One woman, a mother of two, felt alone when her three year old son was diagnosed with leukemia and her husband left her. Her church helped her greatly and we could take care of her medical needs. Another became depressed, unemployed, homeless and unable afford the doctor’s visit to get her medicines needed to control seizures. We were there for her, helping her get the medicine free of charge from the pharmaceutical company. Children with ear infections, elderly people with pneumonia, a diabetic with a foot ulcer, individuals with depression—were all seen and helped.
Volunteers have stepped up to the plate as needs have become evident. Not all the needs are medical—providing transportation, moving donated furniture, unstopping clogged drains, bookkeeping, filling out forms to access pharmaceutical assistance programs, organizing our little pharmacy. But each volunteer gives freely, knowing that God is at work and that his or her contribution is eternally significant.
Two groups have studied the “Saline Solution” video series that teaches us how we can help people learn about God in a medical setting. Since health is a physical, emotional and spiritual condition, we can provide help on all three levels. Our next study will be Marvin Olasky’s book The Tragedy of American Compassion, where we will look back 300 years to see what has worked in America and what has not. We will tackle the hard questions of how to truly make a difference in the lives of the poor.
If you would like to get involved, you can visit our website at www.zhcenter.org and send a tax deductible contribution to the Zarephath Health Center, PO Box 9182, Zarephath, NJ 08890. Call us at 732-537-0737. With an all volunteer staff, you can be sure that every dollar will be used to purchase medicines or testing for the poor and uninsured. And save the date—on February 27, 2004, Mayor Bret Schundler, 2001 NJ gubernatorial candidate will be the keynote speaker at our Celebration Banquet at the Doubletree Hotel in Somerset, NJ. We pray that God blesses you during this wonderful season.