For a time before I had my 2 little ones, I worked on the Red Cross disaster team. The big event that I worked was the crash of TWA Flight 800 that was on it's way to Paris from NY. I was there to supply food, medical equipment, physical needs supplies and an area for a well-needed break for the men and women who were trying to salvage what they could from the water - and recover as many bodies as possible. I was about 50 yards from the Coast Guard boathouse that served as a temporary morgue and I saw body bags being carried in and large pieces of the plane be brought to shore and placed on flat beds to be brought to another location. These men and women had a great need there and I was happy to serve alongside ANYONE else who would be there. I was able to minister to many of the men and women, pray with them and pray for them - as I worked alongside the Hooters girls who came to deliver lunch one afternoon. While I certainly can't stand Hooters, they atleast were there to help fill a need and I was happy that SOMEONE was there. If the churches will not step up and help with the situations that are out there, then we need to be willing to work with others who will - and therefore we also have a chance to minister to the others of other beliefs and faith. Meeting the physical needs in this world is not the sole responsibility of the government or other private agencies - the church should be involved too. And if other faiths are willing to come alongside and work with us, who are we to say "No - you cannot because we don't associate with the likes of you."? When I worked that crash site, I didn't care what faith someone had because we were meeting a solid physical need. I can't imagine being so closed to God's opportunities that I would refuse to do anything if it involved other faiths.
