Lessons learned in quarantine (twice)

The first time I was in quarantine, during my battle with cancer, I took comfort in Philippians 4:19:

“But my God shall supply all your needs according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” (KJV)

Now, during a time of uncertainty, sickness, and shortages when we’re all quarantined, I can’t think of a more appropriate verse to cling to. The needs are great. Even here in the U.S., people are struggling on a daily basis. Maybe today God is calling you to help supply their basic needs.

Your gift to the coronavirus emergency fund will help your fellow Americans struggling from the effects of the coronavirus and help people living in poverty around the globe. Plus, World Help board members have agreed to match your gift up to $235,000, so every $8 you give now helps rescue two people instead of one during this pandemic.

Your gift will impact people in three very important ways:

You will provide food for people in the U.S. who can’t afford it on their own. Many parents have lost their jobs. Others are working with reduced incomes. They’re now struggling to put food on the table, especially since their kids are no longer in school.

You will provide hygiene kits to people who are the most vulnerable to the coronavirus. These kits include critical items like hand sanitizer, soap, antibacterial wipes, and more. These supplies are becoming more and more scarce in stores, so it’s important to get them in the hands of the elderly and those with weakened immune systems.

You will help make sure World Help can continue our vital global programs and keep serving people in need around the world. All of our fundraising events have been canceled for the foreseeable future, leaving World Help $2.3 million behind budget. But your gift will help erase that shortfall and make sure people continue receiving the lifesaving aid they need. People like sick refugees in need of medicine. Children starving to death. And families without clean water, which is crucial during desperate times like these.

Although the world is in crisis mode, I’m holding tight to the promise in Philippians 4:19. God will supply the needs. And perhaps He’s trying to accomplish that through you.

God brings people into our lives when we need them most

As you may know, I am a cancer survivor. About 35 years ago now, the doctors removed a five-pound tumor from my heart and lungs. I had 18 surgeries and surgical procedures and underwent what seemed like countless rounds of radiation and chemotherapy.

I lost count of the days I spent cooped up in hospital room and at home after that, unable to leave the house because of my weakened immune system.

So, even before this coronavirus pandemic, I knew what it was like to be quarantined. I knew what it was like to feel lonely and even afraid you’re going to die.

But God brought so many wonderful people in my life to help me through that dark difficult season. My close friends and pastor came together to support me during this time. And on Nov. 25, 1985, 3,000 Liberty University students gathered for a 24-hour “Miracle Day of Prayer” to pray for my healing.

God brought these people into my life right when I needed them to make it through my darkest days. Could it be that today you are the one He wants to bring into someone else’s most trying time?

God wants to use YOU in someone’s weakest moment

You can bring hope to the family who has recently gone from two incomes to none because of the virus and now doesn’t know when they will afford food. You can give peace of mind to the senior citizens who are especially at-risk of the coronavirus but aren’t able to go to the store and buy essentials like hand sanitizer and soap. And you can help families around the globe who have been fighting the battle against poverty and are even more vulnerable now.

Every $8 you give will double to now help rescue two people because of the matching gift.

We’ve already delivered hygiene kits filled with antibacterial wipes, hand sanitizer, and more to several churches for distribution in their local communities. But the fight is far from over. The number of new coronavirus cases is growing each day.

Think of the elderly who are at risk of catching this deadly virus. Think of the parents who have lost their jobs and can’t afford to feed their own children.

These people are your neighbors, and they need to be rescued.

A prayer for a pandemic

A friend of mine shared this prayer on social media recently. I’m sure you’ve probably seen it going around, too, because it is so appropriate for us during these uncertain times of the coronavirus.

“May we who are merely inconvenienced remember those whose lives are at stake.
May we who have no risk factors remember those most vulnerable.
May we who have the luxury of working from home remember those who must choose between preserving their health and making their rent.
May we who have the flexibility to care for our children when their schools close remember those who have no options.
May we who have to cancel our trips remember those who have no safe place to go.
May we who are losing our margin money in the tumult of the economic market remember those who have no margin at all.
May we who settle in for a quarantine at home remember those who have no home.
As fear grips our country, let us choose love.
And during this time when we may not be able to physically wrap our arms around each other,
let us yet find ways to be the loving embrace of God to our neighbors. Amen.”
— Fr. Michael Graham

Today, will you be the hands and feet of Jesus — the loving embrace of God — to your neighbors? When you give to the coronavirus emergency fund, your gift (which doubles!) will help save lives here in the U.S. and around the world.

You’ll provide emergency food and hygiene kits to our neediest neighbors here at home and help erase World Help’s budget shortfall so our vital global programs don’t have to shut their doors. You’ll make sure families around the world continue to have access to the help they desperately need.

God will supply all your needs … will you allow Him to supply someone else’s needs through you?

Give now