Herd Mentality

PDF Version:
AWA Weekly 221210 PDF

Taste and See (Psalm 34:8)

We humans get into trouble when a herd mentality takes over our thinking. A negative cohort makes it a challenge to become obedient, thankful adults. The story of 10 men sentenced to isolation and death by the horrible, debilitating disease of leprosy recounted in Luke 17, yet getting healed by Jesus, gives a prime example. At first, all the lepers put a herd mentality to good use. From afar, they called out as a group for Jesus to have mercy on them. Then, in cooperation, they obeyed Jesus’ command to show themselves to the priests. On the way, their obedience led to their miraculous healings! But, sadly, the herd mentality also influenced them to not show gratitude, except for the solitary, redeemed life who returned to thank Jesus.

On Thursday, Debbie and several thousand other travelers got impeded by disgruntled passengers using a herd mentality to block entry to Terminal B at Brussels airport. Though the protesting passengers had legitimate gripes following a canceled flight and insufficient lodging preparations, their joint response seemed ineffective. Debbie was among the blessed ones hustled covertly into a terminal for her departure by another route. The adaptation let her board two connecting flights on time. In the process, she remembered the power of group interaction, whether for good or evil. An individual’s acts exercised within group dynamics have considerable influence. She gratefully arrived safely to Nashville, where Corbin greeted her.

Come and See (Psalm 66:5)

So far, so good. All 7 of the
13 wk old  pups are alive:
only one currently seems
at risk for early panosteitis

Verlin spent her two days of travel developing a positive herd mentality. That of CHE reinforces individuals to choose 'the narrow way' leading to life and achieving God’s designs of 'goodwill to men'. Inherent to our shalom-health teaching ministry is that communities are changed by individuals learning to obey God’s call and influencing others to do the same rather than rabble-rousing. Today, few in Protestant circles remember that the idea of a ‘professional career’ derives from the initial understanding of Martin Luther about the priesthood of believers. We confront misled ‘herd mentality’ wherever we go. Deb conversed at length with a Roman Catholic priest who seized upon Verlin’s pyramid and inverse pyramid representation that compares the world system to that of God’s Kingdom while on the last leg of her flight. Over two days, Verlin met with collaborators in southern Cote d’Ivoire, connecting them with others north and west. He spoke with researchers, a pharmacist, a theologian, a pastor, a nurse, two NGO presidents, a bio-farm developing housewife, and still others who extend God’s Kingdom rule individually and corporately by their obedient witness with thankfulness on earth. These effectively change their world. He arrived home at about 1 AM Saturday to grind out several time-consuming family and ministry plans through December 15. We are all in this together as children of the Lord. Witness of God’s Love is not just a pastor’s or missionary’s job; we do it together.

Prayer & Praise

• 🙏 We both thank the Lord for successful trips to our homes away from our eternal home: Deb to Tennessee after being delayed by the protest and Verlin to Bondoukou after three police paper checks.
  

• 🙏 A young man whom Debbie acted to help start an English Bible study came by to say thanks before she left. He continues using the DBS questions for his private meditations, studying the Bible during school break. After returning to high school for his senior year, he forms an English club to use the Bible as the text for honing English skills and grammar reviews and improving spoken English. Pray that teens will be exposed to the Gospel by this young man’s English club efforts.

• 🙏 Thank you for praying for our missionary colleagues forced to leave their hospital in another African country. They all made it to a safe place with their belongings intact. Praise the Lord! However, processing the emotional trauma will take much longer.

Your Partners in the Gospel,

Verlin and Debbie

Christian Health Service Corps (CHSC) is a mission of dedicated medical professionals who participate in the CHE Global Network. Together, in a loose affiliation of individuals, churches, denominational, and nondenominational agencies, we share God's Light and Truth through Community Health Evangelism (CHE). Verlin and Debbie accept donor partners to contribute as led to provide support as we maintain residential ministry to expand CHE ministries in Cote d'Ivoire under the auspices of CHSC & Ivorian partners. Tax-deductible contributions by check are to be made payable to the CHSC with Andersons #0118 written on the memo line. Mail to CHSC - PO Box 132 - Fruitvale, TX 75127. Give online via the CHSC @ www.che4a.org (3% fee) or TDF - specifying Verlin and Debbie Anderson in the optional Memo.

Prior: Counting Costs
        - 221203 PDF
Prior Videos: Reflect and Rejoice
        - The Great Story

2022 Q2 Report: Someone Greater
  -  2022 2Q Anderson Report 220521 PDF

2022 Budget Info:
CHSC-0118_ANDERSON-2022-Budget.pdf
 
  Something to ask? Write updates@verlindeb.org

AWA represents
Andersons Witness in Africa.
It is also a brand of bottled water in Cote d'Ivoire where we serve.

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