Never Underestimate How Far a Gift Can Go

By Rev. Daniel Bossidy, Torrington

Rev. Bossidy is Pastor of the Full Gospel Lighthouse Church in Torrington.

My heart is so full of gratitude to Pastor Eleanor Kalinsky of the Full Gospel Interdenominational Church in Manchester, CT and Rev. Lynnette Engman, president of the World-Wide Lighthouse Missions of Manchester for inviting me and my family to Peru in August. We were able to visit the church in La Rinconada (just outside of Lima), a convalescent home in the area, and a hospital. If humanity is judged solely on the things we possess then I would say they are poor. But I found the people we met were rich in love, kindness, and concern for others. If humanity is judged on these qualities then I wonder who is really poor. Jesus said a man's life does not consist of the things he possesses.

At the hospital we visited, there were many needs. The sheets for the beds had holes in them. There were no washers or dryers: everything was washed by hand and hung up to dry. They needed everything from syringes to an anesthesia machine for operations to an ultrasound machine for the maternity ward. They have a great need for a computer system because the hospital serves over 70,000 people (twice the population of Torrington) and the one computer they do have is woefully inadequate. The doctors told us that there have been over 80 new cases of TB in the area already this year; this doesn't include the people who have been treated in the past and were infected again by that dreadful disease. The doctors know how to treat the people but lack the tools.

One of the things that impressed me the most was how the church is reaching out to the young people of the community. A couple of nights per week they open the church for the young people to come in for fellowship, to hear a message from the Word of God, and a light meal. Some of the people are a part of gangs and some just wander the streets, but they are all souls in need of the Savior, who died for all and loves us all. We were able to give three of the young men Bibles that were donated to us by people right here in Torrington! You should never underestimate how far a gift can go and what it means to those who have so little. These three men were thrilled to have a Spanish Bible.

There are so many more things that could be shared, but I would like to close this letter with a thought that came to me while I was studying the other day. In speaking to the people of God about prayer and fasting, the great prophet Isaiah wrote these words: "Is not this the fast that I have chosen? To loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?" (Isaiah 58: 6) "Loosing the bands of wickedness" can also be translated this way: to undo the pain of wrong-doing. As Christians, God has given us the ability to undo the pain of wrong-doing (regardless of where it comes from) by acts of righteousness. He has enabled us to undo the pain of being lost and unloved by expressing God’s divine love to people.

The Lord works through the life of the believer to restore those who are enslaved by sin into a life of Christian service by the power of the Holy Spirit. We know that God's grace is not a license to sin every day, but is the ability given to us by God to not be controlled by sin, bad habits, and rotten attitudes. Today, why don't you give your whole life to the Lord Jesus Christ and let Him direct your steps? The Bible says, "And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart." (Jeremiah 29: 13)

Please remember to tune in to the Word of Light television broadcast, hosted by my dear friend, Rev. Eleanor Kalinsky. This inspiring broadcast is on your local PAX station on Sundays from 9-9:30 a.m., and on Wednesdays from 7-7:30 a.m.