About 75 years ago a man named Stuart Hamblen, the son of a traveling Methodist preacher, attended a Billy Graham crusade and became a follower of Christ. Stuart was an actor, musician and song writer, and ultimately wrote the popular gospel song “It Is No Secret” to describe what God can do in a person’s life. Clearly, God often works through His church to accomplish some of His plans.

Perhaps you have heard of the Gashland Mercy Team, but are unsure of exactly what it is they do and how this can apply to you, either on the giving or receiving end. This small group of GEPC members serves an important, but sometimes little understood purpose. Deacon Laura Cooper is the new moderator of this team, which also currently includes two other deacons, Mary Lancaster and Steve Phelan, as well as member-at-large, Mark Lancaster. But the interesting point is that anyone here can be a part of this ministry. The following scenarios offer examples of the services the Mercy Team might provide:

• Perhaps a church member is injured and temporarily unable to climb a ladder and clean the gutters
• A church member has passed away and a memorial meal needs to be provided and served following the funeral service
• Maybe a widow finds that she is too small to reach the smoke alarms to change batteries
• A senior citizen may not be up to raking leaves in his yard
• Some individuals face loneliness and benefit greatly from visits, phone calls and/or cards
• Someone needs compassion meals following a hospital stay, welcoming home a new baby or other general need

These are only a few of the countless tasks for which the Mercy Team may be able to provide occasional assistance. Obviously this small group of caring individuals cannot meet the wide variety of needs they are informed of. That’s where each of us comes in! This can be as small or large a commitment as you are able to make. What are your skills? What can you do to help a sister or brother in need of assistance or comfort?

• Can you cook a meal?
• Do you know how to sew on a button?
• Can you change a lightbulb?
• Perhaps address an encouragement card?
• Are you able to trim a shrub?
• Dust a ceiling fan?
• Could you shovel snow?
• Can you clean an air conditioner compressor?
• And SO much more?

If you are able to offer occasional help using your own particular skill, please contact Mary Lancaster, or any of the other team members. The more volunteers the Mercy Team has on their list, the easier it is to provide a little bit of help to those in need of assistance. You are not making a regular, long-term commitment, you are simply offering to provide occasional help if you are asked and if you are available.

On the flip side, should you find yourself in need of assistance from time to time, please feel free to send an email request to: mercy@gashland.org. The Team will attempt to match you up with a church volunteer who has offered to provide such help from time to time.

Another area of assistance is through the Mercy Fund (to which donations are welcomed at any time.) If a church member is in need of a bit of financial support, they may email mercyfund@gashland.org or click here to access the form.

As Jesus taught in the Sermon on the Mount, “Blessed are the merciful for they shall receive mercy.”