The Charge of the Bed Brigade

Dale Cory is a worker. A retired electrical engineer, he has put his side-interest—carpentry—to greater use. How? Dale leads a team of a dozen-plus volunteers in making beds for people who do not have them. It’s part of a larger, multi-church initiative called, “Bed Brigade.” Together they saw boards and assemble them with self-tapping screws to make simple bedframes. What a great and useful ministry for people who like to work with their hands!

Did I mention Dale Cory is a worker? Yes, his team assembles beds to meet a basic human need, but that’s just the beginning. When Bed Brigade delivers their frames and mattresses, they share a message with the receiving families, as well: that it is the love of God working through the hearts of people that these beds are made and given to them. Sometimes they also share that God knows what it is like not to have a bed, for when Jesus entered this world, there was none for Him either. And for a permanent reminder, each bed is inscribed with a Bible verse—one that evokes thoughts of God’s love in the evening hours. There are several from which one could choose, I suppose— “In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety” (Psalm 4:8), or “When you lie down, you will not be afraid, when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet” (Proverbs 3:24). Finally, the delivery team gives each family a Bible (including picture Bibles for the children), encourages them to find a nearby church for fellowship, care and growth, and before leaving, they pray with the family over any specific needs they may share.

Spiritual needs surround us; though we don’t see them, they are every bit as real as the physical needs that cannot escape our notice. In fact, matters of the soul are even more consequential in the scope of eternity. Knowing this, the apostle Paul shared this wise instruction with a young pastor named, Timothy, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). For acts of kindness accompanied by words of truth give us hope—a living hope in which we find eternal rest.

Lord, build me up in your truth, and send me in your love, that I would speak as you lead me speak and serve as you lead me serve. Amen.

Christ in me is hope.