Changing the World through loving hearts. While our National Convention met in Phoenix, a much needed discussion occurred and resulted in a greater understanding. We stood in solidarity as brothers and sisters in Christ against sin. While the media created a narrative that reflected their bias, the real story of Southern Baptists and the Cooperative Mission continued. The week of the National Convention coincided with the week our church served with World Changers Memphis. 70 volunteers from around the nation came to partner with the city of Memphis and meet the needs of people, many of whom live in poverty. We served two communities by cleaning playgrounds and offering Bible camp for the children. Four teams served homeowners who needed work that they did not have the ability or the money to complete. When you look at all the different ages, faces and economics, you see variegated beauty only the Lord can bring together. My team assisted Ms. Lorine in West Memphis. She had become bed ridden at the age of 87 and could no longer get down the steps of her home. A team of 12 painted her house, built a deck and a wheelchair ramp, and fixed a 4x12-foot roof section that a tree had crashed through. Ms. Lorine also blessed us. She invited us into her home. She
had little in the way of possessions and space, but she had a mighty big heart full of love. One day while we shared Bible study with her, the 12 of us crammed around her bed, and she began to speak with such sincerity and passion, our eyes welled up with tears. Ms. Lorine said, “I’ve never seen ya’ll before, but I love ya’ll. I really do. And I appreciate you all, just for coming by and helping me out. God sent you. You all just didn’t come on your own. If it weren’t for the Lord, you wouldn’t have come at all. He is in the plan of whatever good you do!” The students and leaders all sensed the authentic love that just oozed from Ms. Lorine. I felt the same acceptance and love from Ms. Lorine I remembered from my grandmother and grandfather. That one experience alone would have been enough for me. I heard the Lord’s words echo in her voice. “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35) While we do need to stand united against the darkness as the conven-
10 INDIANA BAPTIST MAGAZINE || FALL 2017
By Jim Bohrer
tion did the same week, we need to remember the true power of Christ comes as we work in the light of love. As we finished that week our teams wept as they said farewell to the kids and new friends they made. We also rejoiced that 40 people openly professed faith in Christ. Ms. Lorine wept as well. We noticed that her mailbox could not be reached by her where it had been located. Stephen and I took it and moved right next to her door so she could get to it. She began to tremble and said, “No one has ever been so kind to me.” As she trembled, I reached for her. Her daughter said, “Don’t worry, she is not hurt. She is just so overcome with emotion.” I pondered the profound joy she experienced. This lady showed only kindness, love and thankfulness for all she had and did not have. She had shared with me how she had bounced around from project to project as a single mother until the Lord gave her the present home. She