Ken Martin November Newsletter 2023

You Can Always Do Something

Ken Martin, Unite 4 Africa Board Member

My mother taught me a lot of valuable truths to help me along in life. Like most kids, some of it didn’t stick. But a lot of it did. A couple of truths that not only stuck but served me well over the years were, “Time heals all things,” and “There’s always something you can do.”

But when you’re an impatient kid you don’t really want to wait for time to do the healing. And “doing something” to help solve a problem sometimes takes more effort than you realize you’re capable of. So, you don’t try. But as we mature – as we experience life as our parents did – it begins to dawn on us that a lot of what they taught us had some wisdom after all. And that the world doesn’t revolve around us.

Some time ago I saw a sign on a wall in an office that caught my eye. It read, “It’s not about you,” in large captivating letters. And in small letters that required me to get up close and personal it read, “Who are you and what are you here for?”

Those words of wisdom gave me pause. And I think we should all be asking ourselves that same question. God has given me a tremendous heart for missions. But for a variety of legitimate reasons, I’ve not felt compelled to personally do mission work overseas or travel to developing countries to witness first-hand the conditions and needs there. I have a lot of connections with those who do, especially as a board member of Unite 4 Africa. I listen intently to accounts of theirs first-hand experiences. So much of what they share is heart-breaking. And, to be honest, when I hear about the hardships so many endure, I still feel like it takes too long for time to heal things. But my eyes have been opened wide to how I fit into the “You can always do something” slot. And the “Who am I and what am I doing here?”

Who am I? Well, I’m a child of God imbued with His light in me to shine where darkness overwhelms. What can I do to bring light to the darkness? Unite 4 Africa gives me the opportunity, while I can, to promote the work that is done on the ground in Africa. What you see on the Unite 4 Africa website describes much that is going on there but not all. There’s so much more “light of Jesus” shining in dark corners every day than cannot be communicated on a website. I can attest that everything not specifically described absolutely falls under the organization’s mission to empower those in need in the many countries where Unite 4 Africa shines that light. Each and every day lives are being transformed. Under the direction of Okongo Samson, the fine men and women leaders throughout Africa carry out monumental tasks that give thousands hope in their circumstances. And each person reached for Christ gains a sense of who they are and why they are here on Earth as ambassadors for Christ.

I am a donor to Unite 4 Africa, and as a Board Member and Treasurer I also help oversee where the financial assistance goes, where it will help the most, and with whom it will go the farthest to empower them physically, mentally, socially, economically and spiritually. You too can “do something” by helping us through your prayer and your finances. We have a solid and treasured group of friends of the ministry who have the same heart for helping others that I’m sure you too have. They know that their contributions to this ministry are leveraged wisely to reach so many for Christ. I hope you’ll consider how you can fit in with Unite 4 Africa’s outreach. You can always do something!