Rescue Relief
. . . to help virtually anyone who needs help
Observe Look around you for areas of need.
Ask and Listen Invite them to share their pain—listen to their story.
Pray Ask God for guidance.
Seek counsel Seek wisdom from pastors and counselors.
Take appropriate action Take steps to help the person in need. there is One who is there through it all: God. When we do His work, He is there protecting and guiding. As Christians we are called to help those in need, not for our own salvation but for theirs. Helping people by meeting their immediate needs often leads to spiritual outreach as well. Aaron Kent, a graduate and now instructor with the IRR program, told me in an interview, “Meeting the basic needs of people in disasters often leads to opportunities for witnessing.”
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Helping others in their disasters not only saves their immediate lives but can also save them eternally. You don’t have to be a responder to a catastrophic event to make a difference. In fact, helping with the smaller personal disasters might have the biggest impact for those suffering their own version of hell. Galatians 6:2 says, “Bear ye one another’s burdens…” (KJV). This can mean helping anyone with anything they need. As
Christians, no matter where we are, we should keep our eyes and ears open for those who need “body recovery.” Ellen Penrosa is a senior communication: public relations major from Lincoln, Nebraska. Ingrid Oberholster is a senior communication: public relations major from South Africa. **Special thanks to Aaron Kent and all the IRR students who inspired and helped with this article.