In 1947 Baptists from all over the world traveled to Copenhagen for a meeting of the Baptist World Alliance. This meeting was special, as it was the first time they had met since the end of the war, and many old friends were getting back together again. Even if they had been on the same side during the war, they had not seen each other in several years.
During the meeting, the great need for humanitarian aid after the war was one of the big things discussed. So many countries were ravaged from the war and bombings. Some of the European Baptists struggled to get there, and didn’t have much in the way of clothing, provisions, or anything else. What could be done to help them?
A big problem like that seems like it required a big solution. One of the attenders there was Paul Caudill, pastor of FBC Memphis, TN offered a solution, but it was a small one not a big one. He challenged every American there to empty their suitcases before their return to America, leaving every piece of clothing and provision they could to help the needy Baptists from other countries. It’s said that most of the Americans went home with empty luggage, giving what they could to help others in need.
When we are faced with big problems we often look for big solutions. But many great needs have been answered through small contributions.
This was the intro from my sermon a few weeks ago. I found it in a book on another topic, and have never read it anywhere else. So I thought I’d share it here for your benefit and now it exists on the internet somewhere!
