There are so many moments in life when I wish I had a video camera. The most recent moment was a meeting yesterday at Mission to Children as we read excerpts from our President’s trip to Nepal. We heard about the warm hospitality of local believers. We also heard about Dr. Garmo’s ride on the back of a motorcycle to different meetings and events. I imagined several images of him weaving in and out of traffic on a frigid day in Nepal. This trip to Nepal is more than an adventure. This week’s purpose is to launch the first Character Solutions campaigns ever in Nepal. The week’s schedule is filling up fast.
Co-Laborers in Christ
Several years ago I met Nelson Reed, Action International’s President at the annual Christian Leadership Alliance conference. This was special for me personally; Mission to Children has been a long-time partner with Action, supporting several of their outreaches to street children, particularly in the Philippines, Uganda, and Colombia. I soon introduced Nelson to Skip, our own charity’s President. They struck up a warm conversation, as anticipated.
From Head Knowledge into Heart Knowledge
Through that conversation, ideas took shape and Skip would soon have the opportunity to introduce our Cultivating Character program to several Action missionaries meeting in India. One of them is from Nepal. He is a bright young man, a follower of Jesus Christ, and a pastor. Today, this young man is hosting Skip in his own home. Together they are launching cultivating character events as an investment in Nepalese believers. They aren’t posturing as consultants to teach something new. They are coming as comrades to join local leaders and remind them of what differentiates us from the rest of the world: we are to be salt and light. By God’s grace, the goal of any of our character campaigns is to move these higher character values from head knowledge into “heart knowledge” and then into practice.
Loving from a Heart that is Loved by God
For Mission to Children to be part of this is a joy. Why? Because the body of Christ in Nepal is maturing into their calling as Christ’s disciples: to be holy. We are set apart for a higher purpose. Jesus instructed, “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). We must remember that we are known as Christ’s disciples by our love, and fruitful character—the result of abiding in Christ. Character Solutions International comes alongside Christian ministries, pastors, educators, and parents to help them utilize our abridged character curriculum. They’re investing in children and even adults, developing in them high Christian values to put into practice.
These high character values are a reflection of our Savior, Jesus Christ: the Light of the world.
