Q:
Our church has been raising money to help build a health clinic in a village where some of our missionaries work. To be honest, though, do projects like this actually do any good? That country is very poor, and one little clinic isn't going to change anything.
A:
Let me ask you a question: If you lived in that village, would you be glad to see this health clinic built? Of course you would, because without it you probably wouldn’t have any access to health care for you or your family.
Yes, a project like this may seem like a drop in a bucket, compared with the overwhelming needs of that country. But it won’t be a drop in a bucket for that community! We take so much for granted in our society, but what if your nearest doctor or hospital was 50 miles away, and you had no way to get there? That’s the situation millions face in our world, and the problem can only be solved one step at a time. Jesus said, “If anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones … that person will certainly not lose their reward” (Matthew 10:42).
The clinic your church is helping to support will not only bring physical health to this village, but also be a beacon of spiritual hope as it points people to Jesus Christ. God loves the people of this village just as much as He loves you and me, and He yearns for them to come to know Him and love Him just as much as He does you and me.
I urge you to support this project and your missionaries with your prayers and gifts. Beyond that, however, ask God to use you right where you are to share Christ’s love with those who need Him.