“If as a follower of Jesus you are afraid and you have to leave its fine, but if you stay to take care of others and you die, you’ve died a good death.”
On this edition of The Exchange, Ed interviews American doctor, Kent Brantly who survived despite being infected by the Ebola Virus during his time in Liberia.
As America watched, Dr. Kent Brantly stepped out of an ambulance and entered the hospital to begin treatment for the Ebola Virus that was ravaging his body.
“That day I was just focused on putting one foot in front of the other.”
A few years earlier, Kent and his wife attended the Global Missions Health Conference to investigate different medical missions agencies that they could partner with. Eventually, they agreed to volunteer in Liberia with World Medical Mission, a branch of Samaritans Purse. After nine months of serving in Liberia, Kent contracted the deadly disease.
The Ebola outbreak wasn’t isolated to one hospital and one city, it was quickly growing and spread to three surrounding countries and effecting every part of society. At its worst, there were 300-400 new cases each week. People stricken with Ebola were laying in the street outside treatment units waiting for hospital beds to become available so they could receive treatment.
Kent has since recovered and is back in the United States. However, he says that the epidemic in Africa is not over. New cases are still cropping up in Liberia and the surrounding countries. The outbreak of Ebola isn’t over until the whole region is free of Ebola for 42 days.
Why should Americans care?
As followers of Jesus we know that the most important commands that God ever gave humanity was to love the Lord our God with all our heart and love our neighbor as ourselves. Due to the global world we live in, our neighbor includes not only those around us but those on the other side of the world.
Even though at times the prospect of death scared Kent, he was reminded of the words of Paul in Philippians 1:21 “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” According to Kent, we are called as Christians to display our compassion for our neighbor despite any fearful situations we might face.
What should I do?
Be aware, Ebola is still active and devastating.
Do something practical. Pray for the people of West Africa. Donate time and money to organizations like Samaritans Purse.
“God has called all of us, if in answering that call you are able and willing to go to a far away and difficult place then you should because there are plenty of people who are not willing or able to go.”
