A Global Family

The last month has been very difficult for many of my closest friends on both sides of the Atlantic, and this has made me think about the Global nature of the Family of God. Firstly my leader here in Colombia lost her father after a brief illness, she flew off to Bogotá to be with him in his last few hours followed by her husband and children. It was a difficult time for us as a team emotionally as we all knew this man, but also on a practical level as we also had a team of 41 Swiss people with us at that same time and the wedding of one of our team. Being able to share this loss with friends back in the UK, and around the world especially with people who know Rossy and her family was really special, knowing that in Christ we are one, close in spirit even when we are far apart. Also having the support of these wonderful brothers and sisters who were with us and carried on regardless in the work they had to do was a blessing.

Then I received the sad news that the worship leader from my church back in the UK had died in a tragic accident while on holiday with his wife and kids and 3 other families from the church, including close friends of mine. Although I didn’t know Neil that well it is always really sad when someone so young is taken from us and leaves behind a young family. Through the means of modern technology I was able to be there with the church the Sunday after the accident through the live streaming of the service and was able to pray for everyone involved and affected by the event . In a call to my friend who was on holiday with Neil and his family I was warmed to learn that the pastor of the church they had attended on their first Sunday on their holiday came to be with them after the accident and how the whole church came alongside them to cry with and pray with these brothers and sisters they had only just met. Also as I shared this news with my friends here in Colombia and my team I knew that they felt the pain of this loss as much as I did.

It is so true that we are a body, a global body, as Paul says in 1 Corinthians 12:26 26 “If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honoured, every part rejoices with it.” As these two men of God died in different continents their loss was felt by members of their body around the world and I hope that the love of that same body brought comfort to those who mourned most deeply these losses. It makes me proud and happy to be a small part of this great big family.

Another thing that occurs to me in writing this blog is that both deaths were followed by weddings, Francisco and Melanie here in Colombia and Ali and Sylvie in the UK, another promise of God, that he will turn our mourning into dancing. Where there is suffering he will bring joy and peace.

Thank you all for being part of my global family, thank you Lord for giving us the mediums we need to be able to communicate with brothers and sisters across the globe so that we can love and support each other in our times of need, even if we don’t know the people in need personally.