Souls and Soles

Hubert Harriman, President
January-March 2016

The invention of photography will probably remain as one of the more memorable discoveries in the history of mankind—to be able to capture a moment in time. Some pictures stay with you for a long time; they speak to powerful truths and stories. Let me tell you about one of those pictures that will always stand out in my mind.

I was participating (translating) with a youth team led by my oldest daughter, Anne, to the Manuelito Project, a ministry that saves children off the streets of Tegucigalpa, Honduras. Our trip started where the work had started—in the church that Jorge Pinto pastors. Pastor Jorge took us into his office and immediately captured our attention, and the heart of their ministry, with a pair of shoes. He told us of a poor boy named David, whom they had rescued off the streets. He had been in their program for a while when David started asking for a new pair of shoes. Pastor Jorge argued that his shoes looked fine, until other kids told him to look at the soles. They were completely gone. The shoes just looked good from the top side, but he was literally walking barefoot on the bottom side. Then, he brought David into the office. A young man now, David had been transformed by the gospel of Jesus Christ because someone had cared for his soul as well as his soles. It was a powerful moment, to say the least.

Later that year, our children were with us for Christmas, and Anne gave me a special gift. She had taken a picture of David’s shoes and had framed that picture especially for me. That picture is hanging on our living room wall as a constant reminder that we must have eyes to see not only the soul, but the whole of each human being.

The apostle John wrote: “If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?” (1 John 3:17, NIV). I want to see the soul need of every person, but I also want to see the “sole” need of every person. Someone may look good on the “top side” of their shoes, but be suffering on the “bottom side” of their shoes. I pray for an eye to see underneath the veneer of the world—to discern that, even though people can look happy on the outside, they may be walking on bare feet. The deeper hurts are often overlooked when we don’t really look.

WGM is purposed to deal with both the souls and “soles” of those around us, seeking to bring God’s healing to the whole person. That is God’s sole purpose! We can do no less.

GO: Has God called you to serve kids in Honduras with your church, a work team, or as a volunteer? The Manuelito Project needs people interested in children’s and youth work, education, and much more! Visit www.wgm.org/honduras to learn more.