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Lucia Bastos
July 2026
Bring them here to me!
In chapters 13 and 14 of the Gospel of Matthew, two events shake Jesus and his emotions: his rejection in his own hometown, which limits his ministry there (13:58), and the tragic murder of John the Baptist (14:12). Jesus then seeks out a safe place where he can enjoy God's comfort, spend long periods in prayer, allow himself to feel his pain and be comforted. After all, we all need that. As human beings, we need safe places where we can run to and feel at ease. What's wrong with that? Absolutely nothing!
On both occasions, Jesus, in his human nature, seeks his comfort zone (14:13 and 23), but his compassion for those around him prompts him to step out of it and act on their behalf. As a result, a hungry crowd was fed both spiritually and physically (14:14–21); and the disciples had a supernatural experience whilst also being confronted with their deepest fears (14:25–33). This demonstrates how compassion can motivate us to go beyond our comfort zones to help others and grow spiritually.
Compassion for the needs of those around him was the catalyst that drew Jesus out of his comfort zone and prompted him to act. His example encourages us to see compassion as a powerful motivator for our own actions, inspiring us to respond to others' needs with kindness and urgency. Recognizing this can help us develop a more active and caring faith, just as Jesus did.
Over the last four years of my involvement with churches in Britain, I have been immensely encouraged and feel honoured to witness how your dedication and response to the social challenges posed by the diaspora have strengthened our community and inspired ongoing growth.
It is people with different worldviews and expressions of need who have inspired the church to step out of its comfort zone as citizens of this world and seek creative solutions, encouraging confidence in our collective ability to adapt and grow.
But wherever I go, I see the bride of Christ flourishing amidst difficulties and witnessing small miracles that highlight her resilience, because she has stepped out of her comfort zone, seeking new partnerships, opening the doors of places of worship that were once reserved exclusively for spiritual activities, recognising that hospitality and welcoming people for a cup of coffee is also a spiritual activity, re-learning to evangelise in a world where people's hearts have been hardened by the pain caused by religiosity; and discovering the benefits of spontaneity in building personal relationships. Many thanks to God and to you all for allowing me to be part of this moment in the Church of Christ in Britain.
My time in the UK was also a period of encouragement, at conferences such as Momentum in Wales and Expect 26. I was able to see how partnerships formed for the sake of the Kingdom and how rich, fruitful discussions on living out mission in a more balanced and participatory way are shaping our collective efforts.
On my return to Chad, I received a very warm welcome from my friends and colleagues at the hospital. Now that the road from the airport to the vicinity of the hospital has been completed, it took a mere 12 minutes to cover the 10 miles. This journey used to take at least three times as long during the rainy season, which was a significant challenge we had to overcome.
It was also very reassuring to find that the finance team had all the processes in place and most of the reports were correct. It is inevitable that there is a sense of joy and satisfaction. Ever since I arrived at Guinebor 2 Hospital, I have been saying that I am working to ensure they no longer need me. There is still some way to go and areas that need work, but I recognize that what we have achieved so far is already bearing fruit, which is very heartening and should inspire continued effort.
In some ways, the new road is making a difference. With easier access to the hospital, it is not only making life easier for our staff by making their commute simpler, but also for patients who need urgent care. The investment in better diagnostic equipment and machinery is nearing completion. And I hope, in future letters, to be able to show you more pictures. However, for now, we only have photos of the new stretchers for transporting patients between wards and departments. Before these arrived, we had just three, all in poor condition.
One more interesting aspect that highlights Jesus' perspective in meeting the crowd's needs in verses 15 to 20 of chapter 14 is that meeting others' needs means offering them the little we have. In my intercultural context and ministry, developing sustainable financial solutions for Christian organisations means walking alongside them in their daily lives and modelling the ideal and best forms of stewardship. Recognising the difficulties of breaking away from the local mindset and teaching biblical concepts and truths can empower you to lead by example, so that, through the Holy Spirit's guidance, your hearts may be opened to new ways of thinking.
It can be an intriguing reflection to ask the Holy Spirit how Jesus's strategy looks in your context. What needs around us is God's Holy Spirit showing us, so that compassion may move us out of our comfort zones?
Please shout praises to our Lord for this great milestone we, as a Hospital, have achieved in our finance and stewardship! Let us pray for our team, so they feel connected and united as we work to embed this mindset in our staff, and for the purchases in progress for the benefit of our patients. Please pray for Claire's departure from Chad in October. And May His Kingdom come, and His will be done! Amen!
If you could prayerfully consider if you are able to support my work by becoming a 24:7 Partner, you can find more information here: https://www.bmsworldmission.org/people/lucia-bastos/