Sell Everything You Have

Do you remember the rich young ruler who spoke with Jesus? The young man told Jesus he’d obeyed the 10 commandments since he was a kid. Jesus’ reply, there’s one more thing you need to do: Sell everything you have, give the proceeds to the poor, and follow me.

Do you know there are some people nutty enough to actually do this? Here’s one on your left. Thomas Bell. He has literally sold everything he has (had?) and is giving his life to help the poor and follow Jesus. Another ordinary radical. Some of us in ministry are dorks (read, me) who can’t do anything else anyway. Then there’s Thomas. Duke University graduate, did something important sounding in a place called Oxford, England, and helped manage a very large sum of money and operations for a hospital/surgical facilities.

For fun, he learned Russian and started a microfinance initiative in Russia for Hope International. Yes, he’s actually on our team. God is merciful. Since November, Thomas quit his job, raised his support, sold all his furniture, gave away his car (Audi TT, not a beater), and headed to Sudan.

Thomas left on Monday for Sudan. Time period, indefinite. He’s going over with Seed Effect. His goal is to increase loan access to impoverished Sudanese through Seed Effect. $50, $100, $200 loans for bicycles, sewing machines, material, food, and a whole bunch more. Micro loans that end up sending kids to school, providing food for families, and maybe buying that malaria medicine that saves a life.

Is he sacrificing that education, salary and nice “stuff?” No, he’s storing up incalculable riches in Heaven, and obeying our king, Jesus. Take a moment and pray for Thomas as he begins his big adventure in Sudan.