Gayla Parker - Active Compassion: A Calling to Care

Having traveled and worked closely with Gayla, I can say that she is passionate about Jesus Christ with all of her heart, soul, and mind. She is a missionary who constantly reaches out to those with whom she comes in contact. She has a gift for communicating the message of Gods Word, a passion for sharing it with those who dont know, and making learners of those who do. Her life is a genuine demonstration of active compassion.

Iris White, managing editor of BaptistLIFE, Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware

Gayla brings a lifetime of missional living to Active Compassion: A Calling to Care. She takes you on a lifelong journey with her missionary stories. Gayla shares great examples of being the feet of Jesus in real-life situations. Active Compassion as we go in His namewe all need to do this!

Kaye Miller, national WMU president, 20052010

Active Compassion is a beautiful depiction of kingdom living. Parker is both storyteller and teacher as she challenges us to make a difference in the lives of others. She reminds us of what is most importantknow Jesus and make Him known.

Tasha Levert, PhD, conference speaker, worship leader, counselor, and author of Stories of Hope for the Sleep Deprived

John told us that true love is more than words. True love manifests itself in active compassion. Gayla Parker models that active compassion from the missions field in the Philippines to the streets of Baltimore where she lives. Learn active compassion from a practitioner.

David Lee, executive director, Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware

As you read Gayla Parkers new book, you will come to know her heart, soul, and compassion for Gods people. She writes with a heart that stirs your emotions, relating to everyday situations that we all experience in one way or another. It will inspire, give insight, and will certainly bless you, as you continue your journey in the Lord.

Dr. Jan Bagwell Johnston, Monroe, Louisiana

Gayla Parkers passionate relationship with Jesus Christ has made her a difference maker. The pages of this book will draw you closer to Christ as well as compel you to pursue a lifestyle of active compassion.

Debbie Smith, WMU director, Dudley Shoals Baptist Church, and former International Mission Board missionary

Have you ever seen someone that you thought of as a superwoman? Through the years Gayla has been like a superwoman to me. Gifted in singing, baking, sewing, speaking, teaching, and loving people. The more I grew to know and love Gayla, the more I realized that it was His nature within her that caused her to be her best for His glory. She has a storehouse of experiences, but thrives on people knowing Christ and growing to be more like Him. I would certainly use the word active to describe her. There is not a passive bone in her body. How appropriate that she would write about active compassion. Her life embodies this in all she does.

SC, longtime missionary

Gayla Parkers experiences have prepared her to speak with authority on bringing friends to Christ, even if we have to make a hole in a roof.

Andrew Westmoreland, president, Samford University, Birmingham, Alabama

Active
COMPASSION

A CALLING TO CARE

By: Gayla Parker

New Hope Publishers

P. O. Box 12065

Birmingham, AL 35202-2065

www.newhopepublishers.com

New Hope Publishers is a division of WMU.

2011 by Gayla Parker

All rights reserved. First printing 2011.

Printed in the United States of America.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meanselectronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwisewithout the prior written permission of the publisher.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Parker, Gayla, 1956

Active compassion : a calling to care / Gayla Parker.

p. cm.

ISBN 978-1-59669-314-2 (sc)

1. Caring--Religious aspects--Christianity. I. Title.

BV4647.S9P37 2011

241.4--dc23

2011033974

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked (KJV) are taken from The Holy Bible, King James Version.

ISBN-10: 1-59669-314-2

ISBN-13: 978-1-59669-314-2

N124125 1011 1.5M1

To my husband and sons who have filled my life with more blessings than I can count; they are truly amazing men who walk every day with Christ.

To my husband, Freddy, who has loved me unconditionally and who has taught me what it really means to live out our faith while serving others.

To our three sons, Allen, Nathan, and Jesse, who have always been willing to give away their favorite homemade cookies, and give up video game time so the teenagers who swamped our home could play. Our sons amazed me as they adapted to life overseas, and continue to amaze me today as they live out their faith as adult men.

To our three daughters-in law, Christina, Alisha, and Katy. You were prayed for when our boys were born. Thank you for walking alongside our guys, serving our Lord together.

To our mission family in the Philippines who continues to go where no one has gone to take others to the feet of Jesus.

Walking barefoot in the sand. Waves splashing over feet. Stepping on a stone. New socks. Warm blankets. Things that we enjoy on occasion but more often take for granted were unfamiliar to the paralytic we read about in Mark 2:112. He spent much of his life on a floor mat, unable to walk or run or have any sensation of touch in his legs.

We dont know much about this paralytic. We dont know his name, or why his family was not around to help him. We dont know if he was one of many beggars at the city gates every day, or what his life was really like. We dont even know why the four men who carried him to the feet of Jesus had active compassion for him.

We do know, however, that his life was changed forever because the four men cared enough for him and had faith enough in the healing power of Jesus to take action. These men not only had compassion for someone who was pitiful, they acted on that compassion. When we put action with our compassion, we have active compassion. Sometimes we are the giver of active compassion, and other times we are the recipient of active compassion. But either way, there is nothing quite like it!

There was a difficult time in my life when I was the recipient of active compassion, and it changed me forever. In the fall of 1994, for six weeks of my life, I learned what it was like to be paralyzed. During those weeks, no one was sure if my condition would be permanent or temporary. I learned a lot about myself, my family, my God, my faith, and active compassion.

My husband and I were missionaries in the southernmost island in the Philippines, serving in General Santos City. We loved the city and the Filipinos who served alongside us in our ministry. As far as we were concerned, we would live there until retirement. Just when we were comfortableour house was in order with all the rooms decor to my liking and the last picture had been hung; our boys were doing well; and life was going smoothlyeverything changed. Isnt it funny how it always seems to work out that way? Im almost afraid to hang the last picture these days because it seems that is when God brings about a change.