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crossroads

Cincinnati Church Pays Medical Debt Amounting $46.5 Million For 45,000 Families

by Rhoda Gayle February 28, 2020

A Cincinnati church pays medical debt amounting to $46.5 Million for 45,000 families in Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Indiana.

Cincinnati Church

Crossroads Church in Cincinnati is partnering with RIP Medical Debt to wipe out medical debts of thousands of families in four US states. RIP Medical Debt is a nonprofit organization that aims to remove the “burden of medical debt for individuals and families and veterans across America.”

“Churches are at our best when we are a blessing to real people in our communities,” Crossroads Church Senior Pastor Brian Tome said on Thursday. “We’re not here to just have big Sunday meetings.”

Bright Yellow Envelopes

The blessed beneficiaries will receive a letter on bright yellow envelopes to let them know the good news.

“They’ll get a letter that says, ‘Congratulations, your debt has been paid because someone loves you and there is a God that has not forgotten about you.'”

The Cincinnati church has wiped out $42.8 million in debt for 41,233 households in Ohio, $1.9 million in debt for 2,974 Kentucky families. A debt of $1.5 million for 503 Tennessee household and $200,000 for 136 Indiana families. They were able to pay a total of $46.5 million worth of medical debts for 45,000 families. It is the largest medical debt forgiveness program in the history of nonprofit organizations.

Beneficiary’s Response

On Sunday, Pastor Brian read a message from one of the recipients to the congregation.

“I received this piece of mail in this bright yellow envelope and started to throw it away,” Pastor Brian read. “But when I saw that it said your medical debt has been paid, I thought, ‘seriously, wait a minute’. When I read it I got emotional because I have been so needing a break with getting my credit together. I really appreciate the gift.”

Reference: Fox News

February 28, 2020 0 comment

Faith

Ancient Path New Beginnings

by Dudley Anderson December 31, 2018

written by Dudley Anderson

“Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls,” declared Jeremiah the prophet from the steps of the temple in Jerusalem.

Judah had been invaded by the Babylonians who had taking the first wave of exiles to the shores of the Euphrates. Jerusalem’s streets were silenced of children’s laughter. Markets were empty. Jeremiah’s people had abandoned their worship of Yahweh, bowing to graven foreign images. The result? God’s judgement. “Ah, Adonai,” the prophet may have groaned inwardly, “my people have digressed from the ancient path of faith in the one true God, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and have bowed to false idols made by human hand.” Judah was at the crossroads. They stood facing a choice between returning to the ancient path of God’s law or continue to walk the bypaths and side roads of false ways. Perhaps in his heart the prophet sighed, there is still time for the remnant to repent and return to the paths of truth. But they won’t have it!

“But you said, `We will not walk in it.’ Hear, O earth: I am bringing disaster on this people, the fruit of their schemes, because they have not listened to my words and have rejected my law,” (Jeremiah 6:16-19).

“The Lord is calling you and me, Christian, to wake up and strengthen what remains; to strengthen our faith, to strengthen our worship, to strengthen our understanding of his Word and to strengthen our standing for godly morals in a corrupt society.”

Abandon Popular Opinion

Jeremiah’s ancient paths called for the people of God to abandon popular opinion of the time and return to the ancient paths of the God’s law. This law was founded in faith; the faith of Abraham, who had obediently believed God. Abraham had heard the Word of God and simply put his faith in God’s promises. His act of faith had justified him before Al Shaddai. Jeremiah was calling the children of Abraham to return to simple faith in the one true God and to obey his Word.

Jesus, the Ancient Path

Hundreds of years later God sent John the Baptist with the same message. John may have stood at the same spot that Jeremiah had stood as he declared, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire,” (Matthew 3:1-11). John was preparing the way of the coming of Messiah. Jesus soon arrived, proclaiming the Kingdom of God. He is called the Word of God. The Word brought salvation by faith, to all mankind. Faith comes from hearing the unadulterated unequivocal message of Christ. Heaven and earth may pass away, but God’s ancient Word endures forever. Jesus, the Word of God, is the Ancient Path.

However, sadly, as in Jeremiah’s day, through the ages, Christ’s ancient message of faith became corrupted by popular opinion. For centuries, learned men have evolved the simple message of faith in God through Christ, by adding their convoluted popular opinions and subtracting basic truths from the purity of God’s Word. They have said, “We will not walk in it.” Today, in this postmodern 21^st century so-called tolerant and liberal society, the road signs of Christian moral ethics and the biblical absolutes have been so blurred by popular opinion that we have lost sight of the Ancient Path.

Wake Up and Strengthen

Jesus appeared to the apostle John almost 70 years after he ascended to heaven. He gave John a great revelation of the end times in preparation of his return. (And Jesus is returning, soon!) At the start of his revelation, Jesus gave John instructions to the seven prominent churches of Asia Minor. To the church in Sardis he said, “These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God. Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it, and repent,” (Revelation 3:1-3).

New Beginnings!

But there is hope! As Jeremiah called out to his people from the steps of the temple of God, he offered them hope for prosperity if they returned to the ancient paths of God’s uncompromised Word. He said, “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope,’” (Jeremiah 29:11). Just so, God is calling us to stand at the crossroads and ask for the ancient paths of faith, obedience, and uncompromised Word and Spirit.

The Lord is calling you and me, Christian, to wake up and strengthen what remains; to strengthen our faith, to strengthen our worship, to strengthen our understanding of his Word and to strengthen our standing for godly morals in a corrupt society. The Lord has a plan for you; a plan to prosper you, a plan to give you a future filled with hope. I don’t think our God is a God of second chances, I believe he is the God of new beginnings! The Lord is doing a new thing in his Church today. God is making a new way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. God is opening a new way for the followers of Christ to seek his ancient paths. Only, strengthen what remains!

This article was written by Dudley Anderson of Sure Reality Media and pastor of Cornerstone Family Church. Dudley has a background in radio and is the author of God-Tracking Through the Year and Overflowing Hope. He also writes a weekly GodTracker devotional.

December 31, 2018 0 comment

Faith Lifestyle

God Asked Me a Question that Changed My Life When I Was at a Crossroad

by Kim D'Souza March 2, 2017

written by Kim D'Souza

At a Crossroad, God Asked Me a Question that Changed My Life

Many times life throws situations at you and you go to decide which crossroad to take. It was one such instance when I was asking the Holy Spirit for guidance, and in reply, I heard Him ask me a question:

“Kim, what’s at stake?”

And I knew I had the answer to the question.

“What’s at stake?”

This one question has been a game changer in my life always helping me take the right decisions that would please the heart of the Father.

Recently my husband and I were praying with a group of youngsters who had gathered in our house. As we were in prayer, I sensed in my spirit our entire room crowding up with people. It was as if so many people were there at that place that it was becoming hard to accommodate. It was then that the Holy Spirit told me that every person that was actually present in the room was representative of an entire generation behind him. And that’s what God was showing me in the spirit.

Wow, that was mind blowing, and yet how many times do we live life without the sense of what we are called for and how others are going to be impacted by what we do. We forget what’s at stake. We forget the fact that God staked His only Son’s life for our sake.

When you’re faced with a decision:

So next time you are tempted or you find yourself at a point of decision, ask yourself: What’s at stake?

Guard your heart against the Esau Syndrome – trading something that is of eternal worth in order to satisfy a short-term appetite. (Esau sold his birthright to his brother Jacob for a mere meal).

Life will provide you with choices. There will be choices that will feed your flesh and then there will be choices that will help you impact an eternity. Sadly we often make the wrong choice because we look at the smaller picture, but there’s something bigger at stake.

So choose wisely:

Instead of spending hours aimlessly in the artificial world of social media, choose to spend time with Jesus.
Instead of choosing to throw junk and chemicals in your body, choose to be a good steward of your body.
Instead of choosing pornography, choose a healthy marriage.
Instead of choosing worldly friends, choose your God destiny.
Instead of choosing temporary pleasures, choose to set your face like a flint towards your calling.

Remember what’s at stake!

Kim DSouza This article was written by Kim D’Souza who, together with he husband Derrick, leads Kingdom Seekers International Church in Mumbai, India. Kim‘s calling is to encourage and edify believers through both the written and spoken word. She is an author and avid blogger, read more at www.olivedose.com.

March 2, 2017 0 comment