A Little “Leaven” Spreads the Compassion of Christ
Written by Ps Zheng Haoren
And again He said, “To what shall I compare the kingdom of God? It is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, until it was all leavened.”
Luke 13:20-21
Captain Ernest Gordon, an agnostic, was a company commander with the 2nd Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. He fought several battles in the Malayan Campaign and the Battle of Singapore but was captured as a prisoner of war (POW) and conscripted to build the bridge over the River Kwai. When he became seriously ill, he was sent to the “Death Ward”. He could not walk and shared a cot with flies and bedbugs under pitiless jungle heat.
The allied soldiers behaved like barbarians in the POW camp. They stole from each other, robbed dying colleagues, fought for food scraps. The law of the jungle prevailed. Gordon was happy to die but God had other plans. He sent in two new sick and frail prisoners, both believers. The two gave 24-hour care to Gordon. They boiled rags and cleaned and massaged Gordon’s diseased legs every day.
To the great surprise of everyone, Gordon survived, and as a consequence many of the POWs experienced a revival of faith and hope for life. By God’s grace, the life testimony of just two believers transformed not only Gordon’s heart but the hearts of many in the POW camp. These two displayed and spread the compassion of Christ. Gordon returned home to Scotland to pursue the vocation he had found in the camp. He was ordained a Minister of the Gospel in 1950.
Over the last five weeks, our ministry partners in West Asia, South Asia, and Southeast Asia have been inundated with pleas for help. This COVID-19 pandemic has triggered lockdowns across the globe which in turn are causing severe hardship to the poor, the orphans, the widows, the sick, and the aliens (migrant workers) in developing countries. Coupled with economic downturns, multitudes are facing starvation.
Our ministry partners dug into their resources and have mobilised their staff and volunteers into food distribution and feeding projects. In the earlier weeks, they were able to raise funds locally. These soon dried up. The launch of our CV19 MRF (Mission Relief Fund) and the generosity of individuals was timely to meet present needs. But how long can these last? Given the projected timeline of this pandemic, we know that the current scheme of help is not sustainable. How Lord?
Despite the uncertainty, crisis relief efforts by our ministry partners and Zion Bishan will continue for as long as resources can last. For together, we believe that with our limited resources and prudent stewardship, God will multiply the efforts. May God be merciful. May He use the little “leaven” that we could offer to spread the compassion of Christ and transform hearts!
