At B2THEWORLD, we believe that God is a God who restores. We see this throughout all of scripture. From the first words in Genesis to Jesus’s atoning work on the Cross, to the coming future where God will be worshipped. We believe that God will one day restore all that’s been broken and indeed make all things new. We look forward to that day.

Isaiah 61 gives us a beautiful picture of this. Isaiah paints such a vivid picture throughout the passage, but let me point out the first 4 verses that strike my heart every time I read them.

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,

   because the Lord has anointed me

   to proclaim good news to the poor.

He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,

   to proclaim freedom for the captives

   and release from darkness for the prisoners,

2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor

   and the day of vengeance of our God,

to comfort all who mourn,

3     and provide for those who grieve in Zion—

to bestow on them a crown of beauty

   instead of ashes,

the oil of joy

   instead of mourning,

and a garment of praise

   instead of a spirit of despair.

They will be called oaks of righteousness,

   a planting of the Lord

   for the display of his splendor.

4 They will rebuild the ancient ruins

   and restore the places long devastated;

they will renew the ruined cities

   that have been devastated for generations.

As I read these verses, I can’t help but wonder what’s my role in our world today? How can I be part of bringing God’s restoration to this earth. It’s in this vein and through God’s Holy Spirit, that we practice a theology of restoration at B2THEWORLD. We seek to bring schools in countries that are recovering from war. Schools that can turn into the “best” place for these children whose childhoods have been stolen and their previous surroundings were destroyed and devastated. Schools that can be instruments of God’s love and grace in a world that they’ve experienced as cruel and unusual. Why did the bombs, grenades or machetes have to come to their homes, their lands? Schools where children can learn to play again. From a childhood where they needed to huddle into a corner or hide under the bed to overcome the latest threat, to a childhood where they can play freely again.

At B2THEWORLD, we seek to be God’s instruments of restoration to children in countries recovering from war. We seek to practice our theology of restoration.

A theology of restoration says God wants to restore what is broken, especially in a broken world.

A theology of restoration says God wants to bless the vulnerable, the oppressed, (Matthew 5) in an unjust world.

A theology of restoration says God wants to and does use His broken and imperfect people to bring His love.

A theology of restoration says we look to the Cross for the ultimate example of restoration.

There is so much more I can say but let me stop here. Thanks for joining us on this journey of restoration. We are a little over four and a half years in, and we are certainly just getting started. Thanks for participating with us in bringing restoration to children in this broken world.

If you’d like specific prayer points for Rwanda, Pakistan, Cameroon or Iraq, please send me a note at ben@b2theworld.org.

Strength & Courage,

Ben.

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