Sharing the Treasure: Equipped With Blessing

Our service to others flows from the blessing we first receive from the Lord. We joyfully give of our time, talents and resources not because of our own goodness but because we have experienced God’s extravagant grace—a gift that is too great a treasure to keep to ourselves. His unearned blessing enables, equips and inspires us to reach out, seeking to see this blessing that has overflowed in our own lives transform hearts, minds and communities.

As we receive blessing from God, we are called to share it not only within our own families and immediate circles, but also among the nations. This theme, woven throughout Scripture, is stated most clearly by the Psalmist who wrote, “God blesses us, so that all the ends of the earth will fear him.” (Psalm 67:7 NASB)

As Afghan refugees enter our communities, we have an incredible opportunity to live out this call among people who have experienced deep hardship and trauma but have never been introduced to the hope found only in Christ. These displaced individuals and families come from a nation where just a tiny fraction of the population has heard the gospel. God in His sovereignty is bringing them to us—His followers who already know the gift of His grace and have been commanded to share His blessing with others.

I praise God not only that Christar workers in numerous locations are responding to this open door for ministry but that local believers are joining these workers in reaching out in compassion to the Afghans coming to their communities. Together, we are living out the mandate to demonstrate and communicate the grace we have received from the Lord, and it’s my prayer that He will use us as instruments through which He blesses the lives of many refugees—on earth and in eternity.

We recently published several resources designed to help you, your family and your church connect with Afghan refugees and reach out to them in compassion. I encourage you to explore Connection Points: Welcoming Afghan Refugees to learn from a Christar worker about how you can meet refugees’ needs in ways that convey God’s love for them, as well as read our Q&A with workers serving among Afghans to gain insights that can help you minister with understanding.

Amid chaos and loss, God has paved the way for the Church in the United States and in many other countries to pour out the blessing He has given them so that people from the ends of the earth can know and praise Him. I rejoice that He has already equipped us by His grace for His purposes just as the Psalmist wrote thousands of years ago:

“That Your way may be known on the earth,
Your salvation among all nations.
May the peoples praise You, God;
May all the peoples praise You.” Psalm 67:2-3 NASB

May our gracious Lord be praised among the nations—including among the Afghans!

Dr. Steve Coffey, Director of Christar U.S., began work with Christar in 1989. He and his wife, Beth, initially served among North African immigrants in France. In 2001, they returned to the U.S. for Steve to lead the Christar Church Planting Division. In 2005 he became Director of Christar. Before serving with Christar, the Coffeys worked for a year in a humanitarian project in the Red Sea hills of Sudan among the Beja people. Dr. Coffey’s education includes an undergraduate degree in history education from Liberty University, a Master of Divinity from Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary and a Doctor of Strategic Leadership from Regent University. The Coffeys have three children and four grandchildren.

Each month Steve shares insights on how God is at work among the least-reached through Christar and its partners. Check out his Sharing the Treasure series.