When our recovery group was over, people started gathering up their belongings and heading for the door. As I began to gather up my own things, I noticed one guy struggling to help another guy get out of his chair and onto his feet. The sight of their struggle struck me, and I had to stop and take it in. The man struggling to stand had a weak leg due to cerebral palsy, and the man helping him up was wearing a walking cast and leaning on a cane due to a fractured kneecap. Here was one wounded person helping out another wounded person. As they struggled together, it occurred to me that here was a perfect picture of what our Caring Support ministry — or any gospel ministry — really is: Struggling and forgiven people reaching out to other struggling and forgiven people. 

­Carrying out gospel ministry through Caring Support groups is all about helping people to see how the God of all grace not only loves and forgives us, He also equips us to meet the struggles of each new day, by turning to the one who says “Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Mat. 11:28-30)

Chaplain Philip Merten