Courage in Action It Takes Courage! “It… Takes… Courage!” We shout that phrase during our international conferences when dedicated teachers, pastors, and government leaders join us to learn how to respond to difficult issues such as sex trafficking or HIV/AIDS in their communities. Other days we take a deep breath, exhale and say it to ourselves, “It…Takes…Courage!” as we step into the unfamiliar to care for fearful orphans and weary grannies in Africa. We say it when we are in hazardous situations and mumble it alone into our tear-stained pillows when we aren’t sure we have the strength for another day. It’s not a cheer to get psyched; it’s a heartfelt reminder to be faithful, whatever that means, wherever we need to go. Those words remind us of our identities as daughters of Almighty God, and He loves this world with a passion. If there is one thing we’ve learned – loving like God requires courage. The Lord chose us, two single women, professors in universities on two different coasts in America, to organize and lead a ministry to reach millions of people with life-saving messages. We wrote curricula and training programs and set up a community development project in a South African township, targeting orphaned and vulnerable children. We empower the leaders of some of the largest Christian ministries, elevating their impact as they respond to the HIV/AIDS crisis in developing nations. The choice to be a missionary always begins with hours of prayer and soul searching. And, just like God spoke to Joshua in the Old Testament before he went out, God’s response to every missionary always includes a command to be strong and courageous and a sincere reminder that He will always be present. These commands are a declaration that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are trustworthy, and we have found that to be true every single time. “Kerus” is a Greek word that means to do something with all your heart and passion. When we founded Kerus Global Education in 2000, we knew God was taking us out of our universities to expand our understand-
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ing of what it means to be marginalized, powerless, invisible, hungry, vulnerable, and unwanted. The work has required looking into fear-filled faces of raped or abused children or holding the weary hand of elderly or disabled grannies overwhelmed with the worry of feeding the children in their care. We stand in hospitals to encourage the dying, and we listen to the sounds of dirt shoveled on the coffins of young adults whose valiant struggle to live with AIDS is over. Our ministry with Kerus requires the courage to let our hearts break and the courage to trust God for the right words or loving actions that will bring peace, comfort, and much-needed change. We often weep and question God. We get tired of saying early goodbyes and gazing into eyes with deep pools of gut-wrenching pain. Touching the worst of humanity’s realities feels like an emotional tsunami washing over our tender hearts time and again. But we also laugh a lot, experience creative worship, go on amazing adventures, and enjoy deep and meaningful cross-cultural relationships. We are witnesses, cheering our Father as He turns hopelessness to trusting expectation and tears to smiles. We see Him provide ways to help the children we love to go to bed without hunger pains anymore. The sick become well, and we are blessed to hear the stories firsthand. But, our greatest joy is to participate in one of the most incredible conversations of all, praying with a person who realizes for the first time how much God loves him or her and desires to follow Him! We will share our personal and ministry journeys through these articles and introduce you to amazing friends and ministry projects designed to tackle some of the world’s most significant problems affecting today’s children. We invite you to visit our website and learn more about Kerus and how you can become involved if you so desire. May you be inspired to join the Kerus Family in this prayer, “Dear Jesus, make us courageous, loving, passionate and yes, dangerous women that will storm through the darkness of injustice and abuse and change this world through your power and love. Amen!”
Jennie and Marcia To learn more or to donate to Kerus, visit: www.kerusglobal.org
