INTRODUCTION

In his Gospel, Luke describes a Jesus
- who mixed with real people, especially the lost
- who had a heart of compassion for the poor and the outcast.

It is this Jesus who has always attracted me and drawn me — first to Himself in personal faith. Then for a time to serve Him among some of the most needy in His world. Most recently my life has been greatly impacted by an organisation called Besom. It is a group set up with the aim of building bridges between those who have and those who are in need.

Through Besom, I see God changing the hearts of the ‘haves’ of this world (us) towards those who in practical ways need that heart of compassion Jesus showed, and shows today through His followers.

You can find out more on the Besom website — www.besom.com.

I chose Luke as a basis for our Lent readings, and I trust and pray that your heart will be touched, not only by the plight of the poor, but even more so moved to action by the Christ who said this:

‘The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because He has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim
freedom for the prisoners,
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to release the oppressed,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.’

Remembering that when we minister to the lost and the least, we minister to Jesus Himself:

‘Inasmuch as you have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, you have done it unto Me’.

To order this publication please send a cheque, or postal order, for the required amount, made payable to The Church of Ireland Evangelical Fellowship to our Publications Officer: Mr Denis Fullerton,
31 Beechdene Gardens,
Lisburn, Co Antrim,
BT28 3JH.

If you have any questions regarding this publication, Denis can be contacted by email at: publications.officer@cief.net