09/21/2008 - By Chuck Monan, Preaching Minister

One of the plainest previews of what we will be judged by at the last day is given by Jesus:

Then the King will say to those on his right, “Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.  For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in...” (Matt. 25: 34-35).

When the grateful but puzzled righteous wondered just when they had done any of these things for Jesus he explained, “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.”
Recently the PV family had opportunity to put these words of Jesus into practice.

With Hurricane Gustav bearing down on New Orleans and south Louisiana, officials were determined not to make the same mistakes of indecision and inaction that were made when Katrina cut her swath of death and destruction.  Issuing a mandatory evacuation order, millions were driven from their homes seeking a place to stay.  For approximately 300 people, PV became this place for a week.

The logistics of housing, feeding and caring for 300 people were great.  They became even greater when the remnants of Gustav stalled over Little Rock and knocked out power to much of the city- including the PV Family Life Center.

But thanks to the combined efforts of the Red Cross, UAMS, area restaurants, our friends at various churches, and many volunteers from PV, this church became a literal shelter in the storm.

The list of people who deserve special thanks is too lengthy to compile.  But the Lord knows who each of you are, and is smiling with favor on the many acts of service and kindness you showed to people with very few resources.  May God bless you for helping the church be what the church was created to be, a place of caring and love.

The hungry were fed, and strangers were taken in and made to feel welcomed.

And God was glorified.

As the media reported on the work we were doing to care for the evacuees, many were touched by seeing Christ’s love in action.  One person, who resides at the Benton Healthcare Center, wrote the following letter to us:

Your Christian outreach is a true manifestation of our Lord’s words:  “Come unto me all ye who are weary and heavy-laden and I will give you rest.”

I respect and applaud your church opening its doors to the evacuees from Gustav.  Your opening your doors is most admirable and deserving of our thanks.

My own pain is acute, but I send this small and paltry amount to assist.
In the envelope with this letter were two one-dollar bills.

Thank you to everyone who helped make this work a success.  Your efforts brought to life the words of scripture:  “Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us” (1 Pet. 2:12).