Before serving as President of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, the Rev. Dr. Matthew Harrison served as the Director of LCMS World Relief/Human Care. With the Holy Spirit blessing his efforts, he showed that it is possible to show mercy to those who are in desperate need, all the while remaining true to Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions. The work this branch of our Synod does is done under the banner of “Divine Love—Human Care.” The Church has been about the task of human care since her inception at Pentecost. We read in Acts of the daily distribution of food that took place, the distribution which was carried out by the Church. In Acts chapter four we hear of the offerings given to the Church for the distribution, offerings given with cheerful hearts, moved by the Holy Spirit and acting out of divine love and human care. We hear of the donation made by the one whom we commemorate today, St. Barnabas, Apostle:

“Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common. And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all. Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, and laid them at the apostles feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need.

“And Joses, who was also named Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated Son of Encouragement), a Levite of the country of Cyprus, having land, sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.” (Acts 4:32-37)