Over a decade ago, my friend organized a “bone marrow donor” drive to help save her friend’s little boy. He had been diagnosed with cancer, and was in need of a bone marrow transplant. They needed to find a “match” for him. My friend was informed the chances of finding a match might be higher if the donor was from the same ethnic community.

With that being said, our community came out by the hundreds in full support.

Months later, I received a letter.

Though I wasn’t a match for that little boy, I was a possible match for another boy. A fourteen year old boy living in another state.

“Would you be willing to go forward with this match?” the letter asked.

I didn’t exactly know what this would mean for me, so I did some research and discovered…

“Moving forward” meant more blood work, and if I was found to be an exact match, it meant surgery- not just for the young teenage boy, but for me too. It also meant a possible six week recovery from that surgery…and of course, there were risks involved.

At that time my children were still young and in preschool. They needed me. What if I had complications to the surgery? What if the risks became a reality?

I was all in when it was a community event, but now that things were getting personal, I wasn’t sure if I was quite ready for all of this.

But after some prayer and wise counsel, my husband and I decided it was important that I move forward. I gave my yes and the blood center made it easy for me. Their trailer literally came right to my driveway where a kind lady drew a few more vials of blood and went over some paperwork.

I had peace. If this was successful, the benefits for this young boy would far outweigh my own little risks! It was a chance I was willing to take.

2 Corinthians 4:7 tells us, “But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.”

Friends, if we have Christ in us, we have a treasure inside of us, a treasure that this world desperately needs! We are a SPIRITUAL MATCH to countless lost and dying souls around us.

Are there risks involved in moving forward with that match and sharing the hope of Jesus with others? Absolutely! Is sharing the gospel easy? Not really. Can it be uncomfortable? Yes indeed!

Effective ministry involves transparency, getting personal and putting ourselves out there. But if we truly believe what we say we believe, how can we not?

The benefits are worth the risks!

A few months after I met with the woman in the trailer, I received another letter. The young man’s physician and family decided to go with a different treatment plan. All we could do now was pray for him.

Saying yes and doing our part to help save a life (physically or spiritually) isn’t glamorous.

It involves risks, inconvenience, and being very uncomfortable at times!

As someone who has been a part of a ministry team for over 7 years, it’s not always easy, and we may not see the fruit of everything we do on this side of eternity.

Nonetheless, I want to encourage you to still say yes to whatever Jesus has been asking you to do. You are a match to someone out there! You have what they need.

It’s a chance I pray we are all willing to take.

“But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.” (2 Corinthians 4:7)

~ binu