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I recently had the pleasure of meeting Pastor Todd Hinkie at a conference, and he shared his inspirational perspective on blood donation as a demonstration of living faith. Pastor Hinkie highlighted Romans 12:1, James 2, and Matthew 25 as examples of how well blood donation ties into our Christian charge to care for the sick.
He also described a very easy and powerful way that he was able to communicate the importance of blood donation in a very personal way for his congregation. One Sunday prior to their upcoming blood drive, he asked his congregation if they themselves (or someone close to them) had been the recipient of a blood or blood product transfusion. If they had and they were willing to share their story, he asked them to jot down on a slip of paper (provided in the bulletin) their name, a brief description of who received the blood, how much they received (if they remembered), and what condition caused the need for the transfusion (if they were willing to share that information). Pastor Hinkie was overwhelmed by the response he received. He expected to get two or three responses. Instead, he received a large stack.
People whom he loved, admired, and ministered to each week would not have been part of his flock without the selflessly donated blood of a stranger. He said that’s when it hit him that the 1st voluntary blood donor was Jesus, and we have the opportunity and obligation to at least try to give of ourselves for the good of strangers who are in need in this same way. What a blessing! The next Sunday, as the choir sang their final song for the service, Pastor Hinkie shared the names of those in their congregation who had been saved by a blood transfusion. Spontaneously, those people saved or touched by a blood transfusion for a loved one came forward, raising their hands in praise. By the end of the song, the front of the sanctuary was filled, and there wasn’t a dry eye in the church.
Blood donation and transfusion is a powerful and truly miraculous gift. Indeed, there is still lifesaving power in the blood - both spiritually and physically … His, Yours, and Ours! We look forward to visiting your group again on Sunday, January 3 from 9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. The drive goal for that drive will be 8 units of lifesaving blood. In order to reach that goal, I recommend that you strive for at least 10 - 12 pre-drive sign-ups. If you would like to sign up for the blood drive, please email pastor@newlibertyumc.org.
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