Several years ago a pastor in Haiti explained to me his understanding of the “widow's oil” story and how this miracle of God related to the endless list of needs in Haiti.
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The wife of a man from the company of the prophets cried out to Elisha, ‘Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that he revered the Lord. But now his creditor is coming to take my two boys as his slaves.' Elisha replied to her, ‘How can I help you? Tell me, what do you have in your house?' ‘Your servant has nothing there at all except a little oil.' She said. Elisha said, ‘Go around and ask all your neighbors for empty jars. Don't ask for just a few. Then go inside and shut the door behind you and your sons. Pour oil into all the jars, and as each is filled, put it to one side.' She left him and afterward shut the door behind her and her sons. They brought the jars to her as she kept pouring. When all the jars were full, she said to her son, ‘Bring me another one'. But he replied, ‘There is not a jar left'. Then the oil stopped flowing. She went and told the man of God, and he said, ‘Go, sell the oil and pay your debts. You and your sons can live on what is left.'
2 Kings 4: 1-7
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Over the past several years I have recalled this conversation many times, and the pastor's explanation bears more meaning each time. We should never underestimate the power of what God can do, rather we must trust what God tells us to do. As the pastor in Haiti said: “The ones in need must participate… they must not simply hold out their hands and expect relief… but, they must ask, expecting to receive, and then participate in the sustaining action of using that relief to avoid further or deeper needs in the future.” The pastor said that part of his job is to ask fellow Christians for their empty jars. God is the one who fills the jars, and his country simply needed more jars for a time.
Using the empty jars as an example of what we are strikes home. The jar has only one function… to be a receptacle and storage place for what is to serve a very useful purpose. The pouring in and the pouring out make the jar a very functional part of God's purpose and His many miracles as it relates to all of our lives. What is in each of our jars? Time, talents, and treasure – is the oil which is poured in by God and we must pour it out. Only then is the jar and its contents useful and functional to the world around us.
In the past months Hope Seeds has seen the “jar” we call our seed room responding to more. We have been able to supply because many of our donors have poured out from their own “jars”/checkbooks and sent support. All of this has happened as we realize a 20% decrease in support compared to the same time last year.
Are the “jars” getting empty? Are we going to run out of seed? Are the people in need becoming less? The answer to these questions is “no”. The needs are still very real, as is evidenced by the increasing number of requests and the stories we receive of gratitude for gardens of food. Somehow, the jars still have what we need in them to fulfill our first priority – Quality Garden Seed to a Hungry World!
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Yes, the times are challenging for all of us. Yet we must trust that God will again fill our “jars” with what is needed so we might continue to be useful vessels, pouring out what is stored within. The needs and requests of those who seek empty “jars” compel me to ask you for your continued and generous support. We have a growing stack of requests for seed and help which need attention in the near future. I thank you for sharing what you can to keep our “jar full and flowing. I hope you enjoy this newsletter for the victory stories… “jars” that have been filled, poured out, and are being filled again.
Grace, Joy, and Peace.
Mike Mueller, Executive Director
May 2009 - Attorney Ben Hogan and Rev. Cliff Helmers, both of Montgomery, Alabama, made a trip to Uganda to visit several villages they have been working with over the past years. They took with them vegetable seed from Hope Seeds, a request of the villagers who wanted to plant new gardens. Over 2000 packets of assorted garden seed were handed out in three small villages during the weeklong visit. Hope Seeds was represented at each village by our Agricultural Assistant for Eastern Africa, David Waako, giving explanation and instruction for each variety of seed. How to plant, germination hints, how to harvest, and how to cook were all part of his curriculum… plus the sharing of the Biblical Truths from the parables of Jesus which refer to seed. For most of these villagers the needs for seed and knowledge of growing food is of great value toward their future. We commend Ben, Cliff and David for going, sharing, and teaching… willing to empty their jars to those in great need. |
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November 2008 - A shipment of seed was carried to Bukavu, Congo for the Ministry of Christ for Family International. The program manager Kayange Claire recently sent us a report of how the 2,000 packs we sent performed. We share with you the encouragement we gained from this report:
The beneficiaries were very pleased to receive packages of seeds. People said that it was a gift from God.
The gardens helped the beneficiaries realize -
1. that we are members of God's family though we are not in the same geographical location
2. that to give brings about more happiness than receiving
3. that we all take part in human spiritual and material growth
4. and that we have to love our neighbors as Christ did for the whole church.
The most compelling part of this report was a quotation from a 39 year old mother of five, Mrs. Ndjakuka (pictured right) “ How could people from the distant part of the world think of us here in the Congo?” She is now convinced that “Only God's love can change people's lives.” |
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May 2009 - Alyssa Earnhardt, Children's Ministry Manager for Hope Seeds, traveled to Haiti to participate in Konference Agrico, a conference organized for the Agricultural workers of the many ministries and organizations in Haiti. Alyssa presented to the gathering an explanation of the Hope Seeds program Bible Garden School. She was able to visit with over 50 ministry leaders and distribute seed packets as well as explain the BGS partnership applications. This trip was a great success for planning the next stages of this program for Haiti . Now, we will manage the requests, partnering with those organizations ready to fulfill the tasks, and as funding allows. If you would like to learn more about BGS and how it works we invite you to visit our website at hopeseeds.org or give us a call. Alyssa is most happy to explain this important children's ministry. |
Country |
Family Packs
(10 seed packets) |
Asia |
1 |
Guatemala |
35 |
Haiti |
9660 |
Honduras |
200 |
Kenya |
5 |
New Guinea |
20 |
Peru |
200 |
Ukraine |
500 |
USA |
400 |
Uganda |
200 |
Total |
11,221 Family Packs |
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“Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this, says the Lord Almighty, and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.” Malachi 3: 10
Tithing is one of the commands of God which Moses laid before the people of Israel to obey. Over the many centuries between Moses to Malachi the principal had been forgotten or ignored. God says, “Test me in this…”, to the people who doubt His ability to overwhelm them with more than they can ever use or need. God still overwhelms us with more than we need – just as man still plants seed with the confidence of a harvest – so He still desires us to trust His promises. Are we so different than the Israelites of old?
Hope Seeds is blessed with a group of donors who have loyally given a tithe or pledge of support each year which supports the sending of quality seed to a hungry world. As our needs for support grow with each and every new request for seed, so does the need for more new donors. That is why the Harvest Club was formed, to recognize those who pledge a gift or tithe the work and ministry of Hope Seeds. This is our request that you prayerfully consider joining the Harvest Club …1% (or more) on behalf of those who need quality seed.
The staff and board of directors of Hope Seeds thank you in advance as you consider becoming a Harvest Club member in support of this work – Plant a Seed! Feed a Soul!
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