"By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." John 13:35
In the seventies, we used to sing a song, "They will know we are Christians by our love." "We will work with each other, we will work hand in hand." We always sang it after a monthly potluck dinner,holding hands around a large room. Usually in the basement of a local church, a group of mixed race and sometimes mixed up people held hands and affirmed our essential fellowship. Fellowship across denominational and racial boundaries and those on the social margins knew they were welcome, too.
After a few years, our life filled up with other activities and we stopped going. But the group that sponsored those potlucks in the church basements has not stopped. Empty Tomb's long-time founders and directors, John and Sylvia Ronsvalle, have expanded their reach to the world.
They carry the dying children of the world, the "least of these," in their hearts. Solid visionaries, they are nurturing what they call a "Discipleship Tree." The Tree is a network of givers, across denominations, supporting a network of life savers without regard to denomination.
Our enemy, Satan, wins when Christians stay splintered. Joining in the Discipleship Tree, which costs $48/year, is an opportunity to hold hands together against his battering ram.
There's just one catch. Signup is a commitment to sign up three more. A commitment to ask three other Christians to stand with you, regardless of denomination, next to Jesus, who stands with the "least of these."
Want to know more? Discipleship Tree Homepage
Or contact the Ronsvalles' Project Coordinator.
Tell her I sent you.
And read this blog from a couple in Congo who recently received a new truck with help from Discipleship Tree:
Discipleship Tree Bears Fruit