Dirty Hands

By Danny Gasperson

My dad was a career sailor in the U.S. Navy. An electrician who worked on submarines and cruisers, he was good at what he did. He worked hard and served honorably. That was his job. But one of his favorite hobbies was being a “shade-tree” mechanic. For those a few decades younger than me, before emissions equipment consumed every square inch under the hood and electronic parts required computerized diagnoses, regular guys with a little aptitude and a few tools could work on their own cars. My dad was one of those guys, and he loved it. Being a sailor was his job; being a “grease monkey” was his passion.

Most Saturday mornings found him in the garage, hood raised on our old Plymouth, tinkering with the engine. Not necessarily because the car was broken or needed to be repaired—he was simply doing preventative maintenance or making slight adjustments to make it run better. Really, he was just doing what he loved. It brought him joy.

Occasionally, Dad asked me to help him. As a young boy without experience or expertise to offer, “helping” him usually meant holding the flashlight. My attention span wasn’t very long. Often, the light and my focus were directed at something other than the place they belonged. Repeatedly, he directly yet lovingly admonished, “Danny, stay focused on the work!” His words were short, but his patience was long.

Helping Dad brought great joy and satisfaction to this young boy’s heart. While under the hood with Dad, I looked for the dirtiest, greasiest spot and intentionally put my hand or arm in it. Then I would strut into the house, look for my mom, stick out my filthy hands, and proudly proclaim, “Me and Dad are fixin’ the car.”

Obviously, Dad didn’t need my “help.” Truthfully, involving me cost him time and trouble. So why did he include me? Because he loved me. In fact, he loved me so much he wanted to spend time with me, sharing the thing that brought him so much joy. He was willing to invite me into his passion. I learned much about my dad by working with him doing what he enjoyed most.
Likewise, our Heavenly Father has graciously invited us to labor with Him in His greatest passion: making disciples of all nations and spreading His glory to the ends of the earth.

Does He need our help? Absolutely not! In fact, involving us sometimes makes the work slower and more tedious. So why does God include us in this monumental task? He loves us. He wants to spend time with us. He wants us to know and understand His heart. He wants to share with us the passion that brings ultimate joy to His heart.

Working with our Father in His greatest passion is one of the richest blessings in life. How can we partner with God in His work? The Bible teaches three primary ways to be involved. We are responsible and privileged to do all three.

• Pray. The work of God is a supernatural work requiring supernatural resources. We have access to those resources through prayer.
  

• Provide. The work of God requires expenditures. Those called to full-time service need financial support. Spreading the gospel, making disciples, training leaders, and building churches require financial resources. Every member of God’s family shares in this responsibility through sacrificial giving. Most realize these first two ways to engage in God’s passion, but the third is my favorite.
  

• Participate! God graciously invites each of His children to “get their hands dirty” in laboring with Him in His greatest passion, His global purpose. We actively involve ourselves in the work of missions.
  

We understand the role and responsibility of those who have received a special call from God to engage in missions as a career ministry. But what about those of us who have not received such a call? Are we exempted or excluded from the work of global evangelism? Certainly not. Is there a way for non-missionaries to be personally, actively involved in missions? Absolutely. We not only can; we must. It is our responsibility and privilege.

One of the easiest and best ways to get our hands dirty is through IM’s partner, The Hanna Project (THP). The Hanna Project provides help, hope, and healing in practical ways to desperate people around the world.

THP serves through three avenues. Full-time, career field workers live among and serve others, providing help through education, community development, and compassionate services: emergency response, disaster relief, and clean water projects. The focus of this article is the third option. The Hanna Project offers short-term opportunities for willing volunteers who want to use time, energy, abilities, and experience to serve others in compassionate and honoring ways. These short-term teams provide all of us the chance to get our hands dirty in our Father’s passion.

It's clear in God’s Word: God gifts every believer with unique abilities and aptitudes to accomplish God’s purpose—His global will. The Hanna Project can help you use whatever gift, skill, interest, or experience you have in serving others. THP receives a wide variety of requests for help and assembles teams capable of meeting those needs. They send teams to do construction projects, provide medical care, help with education, conduct athletic or youth camps, assist with community development, or offer other specialized training. No matter what your talents, strengths, or interests, The Hanna Project can find a place and way for you to serve.

Most THP teams are comprised of a group of individuals from various places with common interests and abilities working together to meet a particular need. THP also sends teams made up of friends or families desiring to serve together. A group from a local church or churches can form THP teams to perform needed tasks.

Last year, THP sent a team of ladies to teach sewing skills to women whose families have immigrated into Europe from North Africa and other places. They gave these women the ability to provide for their families. Another team completely refurbished a hospital ward in Bulgaria. A medical team performed basic health exams, taught prenatal healthcare, and distributed vitamins and over-the-counter medicines to people living in the jungle of Ecuador. Teams to Kazakhstan and Tajikistan performed vision clinics and eye-glass distribution. In Central Asia, THP teams helped with the construction of Hope Centers, which minister to the needs of the poor in their communities. Earlier this year, a THP team from Kirby FWB Church in Michigan traveled to Jamaica to construct a new kindergarten classroom for a rural basic school. THP Cuba repaired and refurbished playground equipment so children and young people can enjoy a safe place to play during summer camps.

The opportunities and options to get your hands dirty are limitless. The Hanna Project has a place for anyone with a desire to serve others. THP will enable you to use whatever abilities or interests you have to join your Father in His work.

“Dirty hands” are a gracious gift from the Father. With them we experience the joy and satisfaction that comes through serving and helping others. We get to observe our Father perform miraculous works only He can do. We gain insight into His greatest passion and experience the intimacy of precious time with Him.

Don’t let the things of the world distract your attention. “Stay focused on the work” and get your hands dirty.

Learn more about opportunities through The Hanna Project or apply for a team by visiting www.hannaproject.com/where-we-work/our-projects.

About the Author: Danny Gasperson frequently gets his hands dirty participating in THP trips. Though his initial trips focused on Central Asia, he has since traveled to Asia, South America, Central America, the Caribbean, and Africa. His wife Jackie sometimes joins him in overseas service.