Training to Save a Life
By Caris Power --
Have you ever helped save a life? I have. It’s terrifying and thrilling and humbling. Many of you may have heard that one of our faith community members went into cardiac arrest in the church lobby early one Monday evening in September. Our good, great, and gracious God saw fit to place me in the lobby at that moment it happened, and He sprung me into action, dialing 911, calling for help, and performing CPR until the emergency workers arrived to take over. The combined efforts of those there, along with the medical personnel at the hospital, brought a dead man back to life. Praise be to God!
I got to play a significant part in the saving of this life. However, God was the one who preserved this man’s life. He orchestrated the details, giving me and the others an opportunity to be a part of His saving grace. I had two decisions to make that made me available and able to participate with Jesus in this rescue. One decision was made in the moment this person began to die in front of me. Would I say yes to being what he needed in that moment or would I let fear and uncertainty over my own abilities and the situation paralyze me into inaction? I thank God he gave me the strength to say yes.
However, the first decision was made two years earlier when I accepted an invitation to take a CPR class at the church that John Muirhead (GPBC Property Manager) arranged. My mom and I had decided, after attending an emergency preparedness class by Pat Murphy, that we wanted to be equipped and ready to help save others if an earthquake should hit. When we heard about the upcoming CPR training, we signed up immediately. It was at that four-hour class that I received the necessary training I would need to step in and save a life last month. As I was pressing deeply into the chest of the dying man, my training took over, and the song I had been taught to perform CPR to, “Stayin’ Alive” by the Bee Gees, rang in my ears and through my arms and hands. Thank God for the opportunity He gave me to be trained, so that I was equipped and ready to join Him in the saving of a life.
Not very many people get a chance to save an actual physical life, unless you work in emergency services or in the medical field. However, each of us are given an incredible amount of opportunities to join Christ in the saving of lives through our testimony about the One who saved our lives through faith in his Son.
1 Peter 3:15 says to, “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.”
Saying “yes” to an opportunity that the Spirit of God gives you to share about your faith is one thing. A sometimes terrifying, thrilling, and humbling thing. Being prepared to do so is another thing entirely. What training have you put yourself through, that if a dying soul comes to you asking about the hope you have, you are confident that you know something about what the heart needs and the song of salvation to sing that will give them a chance for life?
Greater Portland is committed to helping people follow Jesus together. Part of that is providing the training we each need so that we may be equipped to give an answer to everyone who asks about our hope. I encourage you to think about the places in your spiritual life where you feel the least equipped, and then look for opportunities to get teaching, coaching, exercise, or mentorship in that area. Besides our worship services, we have classes, small groups, Bible studies, discipleship relationships, workshops, and other occasions to grow spiritually, emotionally, relationally, and missionally. And if you have a need for training that we aren’t providing, let us know that. We’d love to hear feedback on things we can be doing to help you be prepared.
“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