Christ and Lynne Strange are New Tribes Missionaries in the Philippines among the Banwaon people in Mindanao.  I met them while I was Pastor of Long Creek Memorial Baptist Church in Dallas, NC.  I just received their prayer update email last week and they shared a touching story.

A young woman was brought five kilometers down a mountain the village they live in because after giving birth to her fifth child, she was not passing the afterbirth.  She was in serious condition and they needed help.  Unfortunately, what she really needed was a hospital, which was 44 kilometers away.  That is 27.5 miles.  There was no way to get her there except by either motorbike, which would be too much of a strain on her frail body, or by carrying her.  So that is what the men in the village chose to do.  They got a stretcher together and split into groups of four.  Each group would carry her a certain distance and trade off.  After the first 11 kilometers they approached a neighboring village and the Christians of that village did the same.  They finally were out of the jungle but still not near a hospital.  The men accompanied her another 40 kilometers in a jeepney to a hospital.  When she finally arrived she was treated and was able to pass the afterbirth.  The struggle and sacrifice of those men of God saved this woman’s life.

As I thought of that, I was taken back to the gospels and the friends who took their friend to a house where Jesus was teaching.  Unable to get through the crowd, they climbed up on the roof, dug a hole, and lowered him down in front of Jesus, who then healed the man.  Their faith and sacrifice made it possible for that man to be saved both physically and from his sins.  These men of God from the Philippians made it possible for this young woman to be saved physically.  I wonder what they are willing to do when the stakes are eternal and not just physical?  What are we willing to do?

My prayer is that I would be more considerate of the people around me who need Jesus Christ.  Simple things like praying for a waitress at a restaurant may open the door for a witness.  Simple things like holding a door for a stranger might open a spiritual door for the Gospel.  You never know what God might use.  Pray for opportunities and look for chances to open proverbial doors through your kindness.  And be read to walk through those doors.

And click the link at the beginning of this post to learn more about how you can pray for Chris and Lynne Strange.