Hand over that lunchbox…

Albert Einstein said: “A human being is part of the whole, called by us, the universe.” Every day at Pursuit Church Live (PCL), technology gives us the opportunity to connect the world in one place. (If you have not heard, we are the first church to have its main campus on Facebook.)

I have the privilege to watch in awe – a witness to the common thread of Love, compassion, hope, story and purpose that brings our community together. This is more than your average Facebook page. It is the truest form of Christian community I have ever been a part of. These are people who are breaking barriers and building bridges of change by loving and accepting each other the way Jesus loves; in words and actions, online and in person.

Today, I want to tell you the story of one of our PCL change makers. Meet Alyssa.

I have been working with one of our Ugandan leaders (Samuel) to create a pen pal opportunity between 64 orphan children he works with in the forests of Uganda and PCL kids around the world. When Alyssa heard of this opportunity, she started emailing classmates to join this “pen to friend” movement. She didn’t wait for instructions, help or permission. Alyssa saw a need and stepped in to help.

Did I tell you Alyssa is 11 years old?

Within an hour, Alyssa had her first response!

Within a day, Alyssa had her first letter in hand!

Alyssa reminds me of a story in the Bible about a little boy.

It is the time of Passover (think, BIG PARTY) and thousands of people were following Jesus, as he taught and performed many miracles. Jesus sees the people’s need for food and asks his disciples,

“Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do. Philip answered him, “It would take more than half a year’s wages to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!” (See John chapter 6 for the full story)

Then enters the little boy with his lunchbox. Okay, so the scriptures doesn’t use the word lunchbox. It says, the boy had 5 SMALL barley loaves and 2 SMALL fish.

Here is the cool part…

Jesus took what the boy had and multiplied it to feed over 5000 people…with leftovers.

Alyssa is an inspiration to me. So often, I am like the disciples, trying to solve the problem in my own strength. Alyssa reminds me to step forward, offer what I have and allow Jesus to be the multiplier.

With Jesus, we don’t have to wait to create change in the world. We don’t have to have a strategic plan. Instead, we need faith like this child.

We need to hand Jesus our lunchbox.

No matter how small or unequipped you may feel, God wants to use you, right where you are, to impact the life of another person. Just start. Take a step today and see what God will do in your life.

You might start by becoming a pen pal for a child in Africa.

One last thing. Alyssa asked if you could pray with her. She is asking God to give her the wisdom to connect each child perfectly for His glory.

I will leave you with this scripture today:

Matthew 18:2-4 (GNT)

So Jesus called a child to come and stand in front of them, and said, “I assure you that unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the Kingdom of heaven. The greatest in the Kingdom of heaven is the one who humbles himself and becomes like this child.