Touching the Untouchable
Robin Schara / Pastor of Global Missions and Women
"The priest shall look, and if the scab has spread on the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean; it is leprosy.” Leviticus 13:8
If you have ever been on a mission trip, you know that God has a way of stretching you to grow more reliant on Him. If you have not been on a mission trip, I would like to encourage you to consider serving God in a capacity that will stretch you, so you will grow more reliant on Him.
As your Missions Pastor, I have had the joy of experiencing more mission trips than I can count with many of you. You may think I have been stretched to the maximum as I rely on God for His guidance. I can attest to you God is still stretching me beyond what I am capable of on my own. He is always showing me if I rely on Him, He will use me in ways I least expect. I had the great pleasure recently of traveling to India with a team where God stretched me even more. Part of our mission was to minister to the lepers in the community.
I imagine you are saying right now, “I didn’t know leprosy still exists.” Well let me tell you it does. The Center of Disease Control (CDC) states leprosy was once feared as a highly contagious and devastating disease, but now we know it doesn’t spread easily and treatment is very effective. However, if left untreated, the nerve damage can result in crippling of hands and feet, paralysis, and blindness.
According to the skincare website DermNet, leprosy can affect people of all races all around the world. However, it is most common in warm, wet areas in the tropics and subtropics. Worldwide prevalence is reported to be around 5.5 million, with 80% of these cases found in the five countries of India, Indonesia, Myanmar, Brazil and Nigeria.
As you read this, I am sure your mind was relieved America was not part of the 80%. Well don’t get too excited, according to the CDC there are approximately 100 new cases of leprosy in the USA each year, and most are seen in southern states. Leprosy does still exist all over the world even in America!
All I knew was our mission team was going to distribute blankets (because the cold season was coming, 60-70 degrees), serve lunch and pray for the colony of lepers. I was not comfortable with the thought of ministering to a group of people I only knew from scripture were considered unclean. I knew in my mind and heart I didn’t want my fears to lead me. I prayed for God to fill me with His compassion and understanding.
“Paul prayed that believers would know God’s incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms.” (Ephesians 1:19-20)
I prayed that I would experience this same power. I asked for resurrection power to help me live above myself and minister to these people. Lepers in India are still outcasts in society and are still considered unclean. I prayed God would fill me with His love for them and that I would not fear touching them. I asked God’s Holy Spirit to flow from me to them. I prayed they would feel God’s love and compassion as we served them.
“When Jesus came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed him. A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy.” (Matthew 8:1-3)
I was overwhelmed with joy as God was so faithful to work in me and through me. As I scooped rice and vegetables on a banana leaf for each person, I looked into their eyes and saw the joy they have for the Lord even in their deformities. As they fed themselves with fingerless hands I felt a compassion so great I was moved to touch each person’s head and pray a blessing upon them. They were so grateful for the food, but even more grateful for the prayer. I saw past their deformities and my heart was filled with such joy and peace. I knew this joy could only come from God who was ministering to me through the same great power He used to raise Christ from the dead! Power that I don’t tap into enough. His mighty Resurrection Power cleaned my unclean spirit of fear while serving Him at the leprosy colony.
Do you want to take the next step in your faith? Do you want to feel God working through you? Pray and tap into His Resurrection Power. Who knows maybe if you do, Jesus will call you on the next mission trip with me, so you can experience His great power working in you and through you in an adventure set before you.
If you have ever been on a mission trip, you know that God has a way of stretching you to grow more reliant on Him. If you have not been on a mission trip, I would like to encourage you to consider serving God in a capacity that will stretch you, so you will grow more reliant on Him.
As your Missions Pastor, I have had the joy of experiencing more mission trips than I can count with many of you. You may think I have been stretched to the maximum as I rely on God for His guidance. I can attest to you God is still stretching me beyond what I am capable of on my own. He is always showing me if I rely on Him, He will use me in ways I least expect. I had the great pleasure recently of traveling to India with a team where God stretched me even more. Part of our mission was to minister to the lepers in the community.
I imagine you are saying right now, “I didn’t know leprosy still exists.” Well let me tell you it does. The Center of Disease Control (CDC) states leprosy was once feared as a highly contagious and devastating disease, but now we know it doesn’t spread easily and treatment is very effective. However, if left untreated, the nerve damage can result in crippling of hands and feet, paralysis, and blindness.
According to the skincare website DermNet, leprosy can affect people of all races all around the world. However, it is most common in warm, wet areas in the tropics and subtropics. Worldwide prevalence is reported to be around 5.5 million, with 80% of these cases found in the five countries of India, Indonesia, Myanmar, Brazil and Nigeria.
As you read this, I am sure your mind was relieved America was not part of the 80%. Well don’t get too excited, according to the CDC there are approximately 100 new cases of leprosy in the USA each year, and most are seen in southern states. Leprosy does still exist all over the world even in America!
All I knew was our mission team was going to distribute blankets (because the cold season was coming, 60-70 degrees), serve lunch and pray for the colony of lepers. I was not comfortable with the thought of ministering to a group of people I only knew from scripture were considered unclean. I knew in my mind and heart I didn’t want my fears to lead me. I prayed for God to fill me with His compassion and understanding.
“Paul prayed that believers would know God’s incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms.” (Ephesians 1:19-20)
I prayed that I would experience this same power. I asked for resurrection power to help me live above myself and minister to these people. Lepers in India are still outcasts in society and are still considered unclean. I prayed God would fill me with His love for them and that I would not fear touching them. I asked God’s Holy Spirit to flow from me to them. I prayed they would feel God’s love and compassion as we served them.
“When Jesus came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed him. A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy.” (Matthew 8:1-3)
I was overwhelmed with joy as God was so faithful to work in me and through me. As I scooped rice and vegetables on a banana leaf for each person, I looked into their eyes and saw the joy they have for the Lord even in their deformities. As they fed themselves with fingerless hands I felt a compassion so great I was moved to touch each person’s head and pray a blessing upon them. They were so grateful for the food, but even more grateful for the prayer. I saw past their deformities and my heart was filled with such joy and peace. I knew this joy could only come from God who was ministering to me through the same great power He used to raise Christ from the dead! Power that I don’t tap into enough. His mighty Resurrection Power cleaned my unclean spirit of fear while serving Him at the leprosy colony.
Do you want to take the next step in your faith? Do you want to feel God working through you? Pray and tap into His Resurrection Power. Who knows maybe if you do, Jesus will call you on the next mission trip with me, so you can experience His great power working in you and through you in an adventure set before you.