What to do about hungry people?

“Is this Grenada Family Network, the Christian radio station?” said the pleasant sounding woman on the phone.

I had forgotten to answer the call correctly! I had just paid the overdue bill and gotten the phone turned on again a few hours before.

“Yes it is” I said. “Oh, I’m so glad I found you!” she said, “I have been living in St. Vincent for several years and have missed your station. I have been trying to find it (on the radio dial) and couldn’t remember the numbers.”

She went on to say how much she enjoyed the music and programming and how important she thought it was for Grenada to have a station like GFN radio. “People on other islands seem more hard and unfriendly” she said.

Since returning to Grenada on March 30, we have heard testimonies again and again of what a major impact GFN is having on the island. Although we can’t know exact numbers, there are apparently many thousands of people from all walks of life and denominations listening to GFN on a regular basis.

Without a doubt, Grenada Family Network is providing precious spiritual food for hungering souls, but this comes with a cost. For the first time in our nearly 6 year history GFN radio is in imminent danger of going off the air. Since day one, the resources have been small and the need great, but now the situation has reached crisis proportions. For more than 8 months donations have been down and we now owe over $20,000 USD for electricity, Internet/phone, tower rental, and broadcast licenses. From a purely human perspective the situation looks bleak.

Divine Lessons on Faith

The disciples of Jesus faced a crisis. All day a large multitude of people eager to see, hear, and be healed by Jesus had been increasing. Matthew records the number, “about five thousand men, besides women and children.” It’s likely that there were over 20,000 people; hungry people, for the hour was getting late. You know the story well, from Luke 9:12 and 13:

“When the day began to wear away, the twelve came and said to Him, ‘Send the multitude away, that they may go into the surrounding towns and country, and lodge and get provisions; for we are in a deserted place here.’

But He said to them, ‘You give them something to eat.’

Huh? Has Jesus been overcome by exhaustion and confusion? Doesn’t He see the vast multitude of people spread out over the hillside? The poor disciples must have often shaken there heads in bewilderment at the words and actions of Jesus.

Tonight, as I write this, Grenada Family Network faces a strikingly similar situation to the one the disciples faced on the shore of Galilee. We just received notice that we will have power cut off on Wednesday if we do not pay a large portion of the amount owed for electricity.

On the one hand, we have the clear command from Jesus, “You give them something to eat.” At this time in history, radio and TV are often the only method to reach into remote areas and into closed hearts without arousing opposition. On the other hand we have human limitations and the question of how to pay the large financial cost of obedience. How desperately we need more of the faith of Jesus!! Could it be that this is why God often allows impossible obstacles to block our path; to challenge and build our faith?

He [Jesus] has bidden us, “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” Mark 16:15. But how often our hearts sink, and faith fails us, as we see how great is the need, and how small the means in our hands. Like Andrew looking upon the five barley loaves and the two little fishes, we exclaim, “What are they among so many?” Often we hesitate, unwilling to give all that we have, fearing to spend and to be spent for others. But Jesus has bidden us, “Give ye them to eat.” His command is a promise; and behind it is the same power that fed the multitude beside the sea. The Desire of Ages, p 369.

Grenada Family Network has only a couple thousand dollars to meet our immediate obligation of more than $20,000. How will God multiply our loaves and fishes? I have no idea, but I do know that if we are faithful, and earnestly go to Jesus for directions, that we will not be left destitute and disappointed.

The work of building up the kingdom of Christ will go forward, though to all appearance it moves slowly and impossibilities seem to testify against advance. The work is of God, and He will furnish means, and will send helpers, true, earnest disciples, whose hands also will be filled with food for the starving multitude. Ibid, p 370.

Could you be one of those “helpers, true, earnest disciples”, dear friend? Individually we may not have much, just a few loaves and fishes, but in the hands of Jesus our scarcity can become God’s abundance. Please consider giving right now to help Grenada Family Network stay on the air and thus feed the spiritually hungry multitude!

Thank you!

Steve Shedell
Programming Director
Grenada Family Network
91.3 FM
www.globalfamilynetwork.net
 
You can donate online: http://gospelministry.org/donations/

Or by phone at: 423-473-1841

Or you can send a tax deductible donation to:

Gospel Ministries International
PO Box 506
Collegedale, TN  37315

Kindly include a separate note that it is for Grenada Family Network.