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“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.”
~ Matthew 25:40

A pregnancy help worker once shared a story about how our ‘lens’ changes when we ‘welcome‘ every person as ‘Jesus in disguise’:

As a new worker, she would arrive at the centre to find a sleeping mat and folded blankets discreetly placed at the side of the house. The homeless person who had taken shelter was always out of sight by the time she arrived, and as she walked past the belongings, she thought, ‘Jesus has come to visit throughout the night!‘

The leftover sleeping mat and blankets became a symbol of love and encouragement for her each morning. She found herself eagerly looking forward to seeing those items as she packed up for work.

‘Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing,
some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.’
~ Hebrews 13:2

One day, another worker (with all good intentions) decided to tidy the centre grounds. She did an excellent job weeding and sweeping up to the point where the sleeping mat and blankets ended up in the bin. Upon discovering this, the new worker’s heart was pained, and she rushed to retrieve the goods. These items that, naturally, most would consider rubbish had become dignified and holy to her.

Hospitality is motivated by LOVE — for God and others. We open our centres to bless the stranger without judgement — by doing small acts with great love.

Sometimes, hospitality can be risky and often confronting. Yet, it is this Christ-centred hospitality that sets pregnancy centres apart from secular support services. Where else does the stranger receive such dignity, becoming an honoured guest?

As we offer hospitality to our clients, we discover that we are offering hospitality to God. ‘I was a stranger, and you invited Me in’. (Matthew 25:35)

Prayer:

Dear Jesus, as we prepare ourselves to receive the gift of Your hospitality afresh, we pray for the grace to be free of any hardness of heart. May our hearts grow bigger and softer, ready to respond tenderly, turning towards You, present in the ‘face of the stranger’.

Through You, Jesus, who lives and reigns with God the Father through the unity of the Holy Spirit, may we be ONE community of blessing. May we be Your hands and feet and smile that offers hospitality (Divine Love in action) upon the face of the earth. Your Kingdom Come. Let it be done. Amen.

Prayer Points:

• Protection. Praise the Lord to remove any schemes of the enemy preventing those most vulnerable to abortion from finding the Pregnancy Help Australia network today and all future days. Plead the precious blood of Jesus over all pregnancy help centres, their board members, workers, families, clients, and the unborn.
• Truth. Pray for wisdom and prudence in the words we speak and the projects we pursue.
• Provision. Pray that your local pregnancy help centre will receive an increase in calls from willing donors asking them what material items they need to bless a new family (such as nappies, maternity clothes, food vouchers), and what financial support they require to continue being able to provide their services for free.
• Favour. Pray for favour with clients, communities, churches, government, and media. Pray that any barriers or blockages to communication channels are removed so those who desperately need to hear our message of hope and receive vital resources can connect with us.

If you or someone you know needs support, please visit the Pregnancy Help Australia website or call the National Helpline at 1300 139 313. If you’re curious about the transformative impact of the Hubs of LOVE Project and are interested in starting a Hub of Love in your community, click here to learn more.