Wow! What an incredible night to remember and what a great God we serve! Every year, we host the Justice & Mercy International Gala at Rolling Hills Franklin campus. And, every year our God shows up and shows out. This year was even more special considering everything our international teams have been facing in Moldova and the Amazon. We are always so blessed to have our international directors for JMI in town for the Gala and to hear an update from Sarah Rodrigues about the ministry work in the Amazon and from Alina Magdiluik about the ministry work in Moldova. Everyone could truly feel the Holy Spirit in the place and God’s grace along with generosity was unleashed.
Justice and Mercy Amazon has been in a battle for these last two years with the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet, our God has been so faithful. Through JMI, we now have work with over 1,200 pastors who have been trained in our Pastor’s Conferences and serving in 52 of the 60 municipalities of the Amazon. During these last two years, JMA has distributed thousands of food bags, oxygen tanks, and Bibles and taken mission trips to some of the hardest hit villages. It has been encouraging to see God working through JMI with our new boat and other boats going on 18 different mission trips this year alone. Lives are being physically and spiritually saved.
In Moldova, the work through JMI has continued to focus on the orphan and vulnerable children, and yet with the war in Ukraine, now the ministry has expanded to serve the poorest refugees. Our JMI Team has worked tirelessly around the clock to serve the least, the last, and the lost. What has been powerful to watch is our own Transitional Living kids (the boys and girls in our Grace House and Boys 2 Leaders – ages 16-19) serving thousands of Ukrainian refugees. Through our 45 Staff Team of JMI, we have been able to distribute food, Bibles, mattresses, boots, shoes, and more to those in desperate need. Our team is on the ground serving, and they continue to take care of the thousands of children we already love.
What was so inspiring to hear from Sarah and Alina is that in the middle of these crises in both our countries – they stayed. When we, in our US office, were making plans to evacuate our staff out of the Amazon during Covid, Sarah and her team said, “No. These are our people and God has called us to serve them.” When we were making plans for our Staff in Moldova and securing Visas for our Transitional Living kids in case Russia was to come into Moldova, Alina and her team said, “No. This is our time. This is where God called us to serve. We will give our lives for these children and people.” Wow – as Jesus said, “Greater love has no man than this, that he would lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13.
That night at the Gala as they shared their stories along with what God was doing in Moldova and Amazon in the middle of crisis, we were all inspired. Hundreds of people were inspired to live for Jesus and to give generously. We were inspired to make the most of our opportunity to make a difference for the glory of our great God and to join with our JMI Team around the world. Our goal for the evening was to give $350,000, but people responded and gave over $450,000. Praise God!
The JMI Gala is one of my favorite nights of the year. I am always moved by seeing God’s work around the world and challenged to make a difference myself. We can’t do everything. There are so many needs in the world today, but we can all do something! I love seeing God’s people respond and lives transformed for His glory. We are all truly a part of something very special. May our God find us faithfully serving Him through His Church at Rolling Hills and His nonprofit JMI. Thank You, Father, for showing up and showing out. Bring healing, hope and inspire all of us, wherever we are in the world, to help others and make a difference in our day.