Mother-Daughter Banquet
"I am the bread of life" John 6:35.

In honor of Mother's Day, listen to the mission strategy of St. Louis resident Annette Schroeder and her mother.

"In 1995, Mom and I decided to host high-school exchange students. The first year was so rewarding that we then hosted a series of wonderful young ladies from Germany. Most of them were unchurched and had never been baptized. While disillusioned with the German State Church, they were quite open to New Age teachings, evolution, Buddhism and reincarnation. Yes, they had learned about the Bible in school, but as information only.

"Four of the last five girls were instructed by my pastor, and when the Holy Spirit led them to faith in Christ, they were baptized. Each girl came to know Jesus in her own way. All Mom and I did was share our lives with them, love them, invite them to church, pray for them constantly and answer their questions. If we didn't have the answers to some of their questions, my pastor did--or my clergy brothers did by e-mail. As the school year progressed, we would always marvel at what the Word of God was accomplishing. I told them, 'God must have great plans for you to bring you all the way to America to find out about Him.'

"Maria, in particular, was a miracle. Intending to become a microbiologist, she was convinced she couldn't be both a scientist and a Christian. How we rejoiced when she wrote us that she had started a Bible class in her school in Germany!

"In November 2001, Mom was called home to heaven, but I have no intention of halting my tiny attempt at mission work. My pastor teases me, 'Annette, you are going to evangelize all Germany, one girl at a time!'"

Outreach to Germany brings to mind Christ's teaching about bread. After feeding the 5,000, the crowds hoped Jesus would provide them free groceries for life. But He warned, "Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life" (John 6:27). When they clamored, "Give us this bread," Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He [or she] who comes to me will never go hungry" (John 6:34-35).

With the world's third largest economy, most Germans are well-fed materially. But spiritual starvation is rampant. Although Germans have had God's Word in their own tongue since Martin Luther translated "Der Bibel," in recent centuries liberal German theologians have robbed the Scriptures of their natural spiritual nutrients.

So when spiritually malnourished German students arrive at the Schroeder home, what do they find? A mother-daughter banquet. The table is spread with love, concern, prayer, worship, listening and Bible teaching. One by one, starving young ladies have been renewed by Jesus the Bread of Life. And then they take Him back to their family and friends.

1. Describe the hungriest you have ever been. What is the difference between hunger and malnourishment?
2. Compare John 6:32-40 to Deut. 8:3. How do Christians bring Christ, the bread of life, to places where the bread has gone stale?
3. Compare Amos 8:11-14 to John 6:32-40. What encouragement do you find in knowing that what you offer the famished is of everlasting nourishment?