Phil and Chris Jones speak about Guatemala mission
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Pastor Kelvin’s brother Phil and Phil’s wife Chris have been traveling to Guatemala for many years to put Jesus’ compassion into action. It is an axiom that following Jesus requires acting on our beliefs. So often we want to help with the needs of the world but we don’t see an opportunity close at hand. We need a reliable connection. The service this week at Copper Hill helped provide an opportunity to put our compassion into action as we heard first-hand about one such connection.
Phil Jones, who is lay leader in his home church in western NY, spoke using Jesus’ actions recorded in both Matthew 14 and Mark 6 as our example. Phil’s points were simple and memorable. Jesus saw the people – he saw their needs. Do we see the needs for just think of people as in our way? Jesus had compassion on the people – compassion requires action, otherwise it is just sympathy. Jesus acted on their behalf by teaching, healing and feeding them. Phil then talked abut the Impacto mission in Guatemala where he and Chris have been active for many years in helping poorer mountain people. He especially explained about the feeding program for the children called Happy Tummies and the morning program to help struggling seniors. These programs put compassion into action.
Phil and Chris also lead short-term mission trips to help at the Impacto mission. Chris (in light blue) is pictured here with members from one of the teams in the mountain country of Guatemala where Impacto ministers. By going on such a trip, people can learn for themselves about the needs, they can help first hand, and they can get to know some of God’s family in another part of the world. It will likely be a spiritual highlight for them. Pastor Kelvin has been on three short term missions trips in years past (Zambia and Haiti (twice)) and he highly recommends such experiences.