Miracles

Do miracles still happen? More specifically, does Jesus still work miracles in our modern world? That was the question our Genesis youth discussed last night. Our year-long journey has taken us to the point where we are considering who Jesus is. We know that historians of that day verify his existence. They comment on his popularity, the crowd’s claims of healing miracles, even the event of his crucifixion. We know Jesus existed. But who was he? Who is He? Last week we discovered that he is a great teacher- challenging, funny, insightful, and timeless in his lessons; so, we call him Rabbi. This week, we considered the stories of Jesus healing a man with leprosy with the touch of his hand, of raising a son and a daughter from the dead, of giving sight to the blind and strength to the lame. Then we looked at the miracles of Jesus- of crowds fed with a boy’s lunch, of storms stilled and water turned into wine. When asked if they believe the stories, our Genesis youth gave a resounding YES. They know that the people who shared those stories, and those who passed the stories along, risked their lives as they defied Rome. We have concluded that no one risks their life for a lie, so we call Jesus a Healer, a Miracle Worker.

But does Jesus work miracles today? To that question, once again our Genesis youth gave a resounding YES. This time, they pointed to what happened on Sunday at Lenape Valley. If you were not in church on Sunday, let me describe the miracle as it unfolded. First, people came to church despite windchill temperatures that were sub-zero. I feared that the arctic blast would keep people away- o ye of little faith! But the crowds gathered for worship in great anticipation of what God was going to do next. After worship and a flurry of hand-wipes and hairnets in the lobby, a crowd of nearly 200 gathered in Fellowship Hall to pack 25,000 meals. Many of you know the drill… vitamin pack, soy, vegies, rice (rice is aways last!) poured into bags… then the runners- our cute little ones- carry the bags to the weigh and seal station. Those sealed bags go to be tagged and boxed. And finally, the boxes are loaded on pallets that will make their way around the world to feed hungry children.

In one hour and fifteen minutes, 25,000 meals were packed! Our Genesis youth saw the connection between Jesus feeding the 5,000+ on the hillside in Galilee and Jesus working through our hands to feed children around the world. What a privilege to be his disciples in 2026! Does Jesus do miracles today? I hope we all give a resounding YES to that question. Sunday, we not only saw a miracle unfold, but we were also privileged to be part of that miracle. Two thousand years ago, when the disciples showed concern for a hungry crowd, Jesus said, “You feed them.” Sunday, Lenape Valley answered that call, to feed the hungry. Your hands, your feet, your resources in the hands of the Miracle Worker did wonderous things on Sunday!

Many of you have asked where the meals go. RISE Against Hunger sends all the meals to schools where poverty can steal away a child’s opportunity to learn. In those communities, parents often keep their children home to help make money for the family so that they can eat. We dare not judge those parents. They are just trying to survive. But if their child eats at school, the parents are able to send them. We all know that we think better, we learn better, we function better, when we are well fed. So, the meals we made on Sunday will encourage parents to send their children to school. And once at school, those children will have all the nutrition they need to grow strong and learn well.

We will know in a few months where our meals went this year. Several years ago, we discovered that our meals went to a school in Zambia founded and led by one of our member’s granddaughters. What a special joy! When the principal of Barclay Elementary went to China to teach educators several years ago, he saw RISE meals in their villages. Some of the meals stay here in the US, going to schools on Native American lands where poverty often steals away the potential of our own citizens. I can’t wait to share with you where our meals have gone this year.

If you ever wonder if Jesus is doing miracles today, just remember our Lenape Valley family dancing as they packed meals to feed not 5,000 but 25,000. A miracle indeed! Many thanks to our Mission Team for inspiring us to share in the miracles of Jesus!

With you, amazed at the miracles in our midst,
Anita