I hope that you will remember that phrase from a column I wrote a couple of weeks ago? If you have not seen the earlier article, I encourage you to go to The Pathway archives and find it and read it. The article was a report of my recent mission/vision trip to El Salvador. Here’s a part of what I wrote in the December 8, 2009 issue of The Pathway:
“One of the best known and most used … phrases in the Spanish language is the sentence, “Mi casa es su casa.” My house is your house …What if Missouri Baptists took on that mentality concerning the El Salvadoran Baptists who lost their homes? What if we decided to rebuild those homes as quickly as if they were our homes?”
“Mi casa es su casa.” My house is your house.
Those questions followed my description of the devastation I had seen in El Salvador. The weekend before Mauricio Vargas and I traveled to El Salvador, Hurricane Ida struck a punishing blow to that country. That’s an understatement. El Salvador was devastated by the storm. While I was in Central America, I spoke at a Memorial Service held for seven children and two adults who had been killed in the hurricane. I preached and Mauricio Vargas translated the message standing on the dirt foundation of one of the homes that had been swept away by the wind and water. Upon our return to Missouri, I presented the following challenge to Missouri Baptists:
“Missouri Baptists could rebuild those homes. Missouri Baptists should rebuild those homes. I am convinced that God brought us to the El Salvadoran missions partnership ‘… for such a time as this.’” I then made a statement suggesting that “… some Missouri Baptists may travel to El Salvador to do the physical labor on the homes.” But the next statement was a loaded statement—more so than anyone could have imagined. I wrote, “There is some government red tape that has to be cut prior to the beginning of the work—there always is.”
“Mi casa es su casa.” My house is your house.
Let me explain that loaded statement. The government red tape includes the fact that the government of El Salvador may actually help with the rebuilding. El Salvadoran citizens who have lost their homes, but own a piece of property, may receive some government financial assistance with the rebuilding. Coincidentally—that said with my tongue set deep in my cheek, because there is nothing coincidental about the fact that—the Association of Baptists in El Salvador (ABES) owns some properties and have pledged to make those properties available to El Salvadoran Baptists in need of homes. The result may be that Missouri Baptists will be enabled to more quickly rebuild the homes of El Salvadoran Baptists. That’s “government red tape” I can live with.
But, there was/is even more significance to my “red tape” statement. I called that a loaded statement because there also was some Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC) red tape that needed to be cut—that happens sometimes as well. But, Dec. 14 and 15, the MBC Executive Board cut that red tape. In that earlier article, I pleaded with you:
“I hope you will help. Give me some time to gather more information. Watch and listen for further word. And please, be quick to get involved when I give you the word.”
Here’s the word. Dec. 14 and 15, at the winter meeting of the MBC Executive Board, I presented the need to the members of the Executive Board. I presented to them, a challenge to initiate a special offering under the banner “Mi casa es su casa.” And, just as I expected, the Executive Board responded appropriately, actually admirably to the challenge. Not only did they authorize the offering. The Executive Board has authorized an initial MBC gift of $10,000.
“Mi casa es su casa.” My house is your house.
Some Missouri Baptist churches have already given—even before we initiated the “authorized” offering, Missouri Baptists were following their hearts and our Lord—so that, to date, more than $7,600 has been given to rebuild homes in El Salvador.
“Mi casa es su casa.” My house is your house.
In addition, churches are already contacting us, volunteering to go and do the actual rebuilding of the El Salvadoran homes. Rick Seaton, MBC Disaster Relief specialist, and Leighton Clemens, director of Missouri Baptist Builders, will be in El Salvador the first week in January to begin planning for the actual construction. Our initial goal will be to build ten homes at a total cost of $35,000. We can do that. God can do that through His people called Missouri Baptists. God brought us to the El Salvadoran missions partnership “… for such a time as this.” We will build additional homes in the future, but let’s start with ten … and I want us to build those first ten quickly.
“Mi casa es su casa.” My house is your house.
Missouri Baptists, this could be your finest hour. The promotional material for this offering is on its way to your church. I am praying that you will pray, asking God how He would have you respond. And, when you hear from Him, follow His direction. If you can go and do the work—then go and rebuild houses like the house you build will be your house. Those of us who can give ought to give like the dollars were to be spent rebuilding our own homes. And, all of us can pray—and I want you to pray like the rebuilding of your house depended on your prayer.
“Mi casa es su casa.” My house is your house.