Easter Hope for the Hopeless

Easter has always been my favorite day of the year--even more so than Christmas. I have fond memories of waking up to find an Easter basket filled with goodies hiding in brightly-colored eggs, eating breakfast, and heading off to church in a brand new Easter dress and shoes. Even as a child, hearing the trumpet played to "Jesus Christ is Risen Today" brought me such joy and almost tears. As soon as the song would end, I couldn't wait to do it again the next year! We went to church regularly, but Easter was always a welcome opportunity to hear once again of God's victory over sin and death and of the promise of eternal life in Heaven with Him.

But just imagine for a moment--really imagine--what it would be like to hear about Easter for the FIRST time. Let it sink in. It's hard for most of us to do since we have grown up with this amazing reality from childhood and can't remember not knowing. Try to imagine your life without the hope that He gives us in this life and life eternal. Imagine living without the peace and the joy that gets us through the toughest of life's circumstances. Imagine if you lived in a society that labeled you, from birth, as less than human. Untouchable. Destined to live out your life on earth as the lowest of the low facing discrimination, dehumanization, degradation, and violence every day. Utter hopelessness without Hope. Dalit. A reality for an estimated 250 million people in Asia.

Now imagine that YOU can bring hope to them. Imagine that YOU can share the love and hope of Christ with them, changing their reality today and even their ETERNITY. What is it worth? Could you give up just one dinner out to help support the cause? Eat Easter leftovers instead? Skip that sale at your favorite store because you really don't need anything? Give your weekly Starbucks budget to something with eternal impact?

You can make an Easter gift to those who have yet to hear the Gospel by supporting native missionaries who travel by foot to share the good news. My kingdom goal is 100 bikes for missionaries! Please prayerfully consider what God has financially blessed you to do and make a gift at https://www.mygfa.org/makeadifferencenowblog/. Where would any of us be if post-Easter the Apostles had not given their lives to ensure that generations of people they'd never meet were also saved? I'm not asking you to give your life--just one thing that you don't really need anyway.