Point-of-View

During the past two weeks, the leadership of the Florida Baptist Convention has made arrangements to deliver beans, rice and water to Baptist churches in Haiti. The Caribbean country has been plagued with a shortage of food since early February when revolutionaries overthrew the government of President Jean Bertrand Aristede. The rebels cut off food supplies to cities and towns outside of Port Au Prince, created a nation of lawlessness and exacerbated the extreme poverty of the people.

In response to the availability of food and development of a manageable distribution system, this week we are purchasing food and delivering it among our Haitian brothers and sisters in Christ. We are asking Florida Baptists to help us raise $75,000 to underwrite the effort, which we are calling “Operation Beans, Rice and Water.” Already several Florida Baptist churches have accepted the challenge and sent in funds. I have never seen a more gracious people than Florida Baptists.

I must admit, rarely have I made a financial request of Florida Baptist churches beyond giving to the Cooperative Program, and the Annie Armstrong National, Lottie Moon International and Maguire State Mission offerings.

But folks, we really must rally the troops for Haiti. People are hungry. We can be God’s investment to help feed them. It is not my intent to debate the virtues or vices of the recent revolution. My interest is feeding hungry families.

Ravi Zacharias writes in the book Recapture the Wonder: “The first necessary component of wonder is profound gratitude. But the word gratitude may need a little explanation. It comes from the same word as the word freedom. When something is gratis, we consider it free. Gratitude is the freeing expression toward those who freely give. There are two basic emotions with a grateful heart. One erupts on the spur of the moment. The gratitude that I am speaking of is not sporadic. It cannot be spent or exhausted. It is the transforming of a mind that is more grateful for the giver than the gift.”

“Transforming of a mind” are familiar words in Romans 12:1-2 and Philippians 2:1-2. We are so blessed of God in this state. Our gratitude should be obvious in our conduct, speech and ministry.

Jesus Christ has freely given us salvation. His suffering on the cross is God’s greatest testimony of love. The empty grave is God’s greatest testimony of victory. Heaven is God’s greatest testimony of eternity. It could well be that giving out of gratitude is my greatest response to all God has done.

I am not writing this in a vacuum. I have seen Haiti’s needs. Trip after trip, episode after episode reminded me of the people’s plight in light of our abundance; their hunger for the Gospel in light of our often resistance. But all the feelings finally dissolve into one—gratitude.

Gratitude that God has allowed me to have opportunity to express my emotions, the spur of the moment and the inexhaustible. “Beans, Rice and Water” is not a slogan, but an expression of gratitude. It is not a fund raising mantra, it is survival for boys and girls, men and women. It is not an additional burden for our churches, it is a present opportunity to express gratitude!

I need your help in supporting this ministry. All is in place to purchase and deliver the food this week. We must not miss this window of gratitude. 

[See related news brief concerning the International Mission Board involvement on page 4.]