There’s little reward in giving to those who can give back to us, but God promises great reward if we will give, love and serve those who can never repay us.
Touch, a revolution of compassion, is the story of Rudy Rasmus’ life, his response to God’s grace in his own life, and his passion to touch the lives of every person with God’s great love. Touch is a great sequel to Rick Warren’s Purpose Driven Life. After we’ve realized our purpose and that it’s not about us, Touch helps us know what to do next.
Rudy’s ministry at St. John’s Downtown in Houston is based on Jesus’ encouragement to care for “the least of these.” As Christians hear his story of lives changed by the touch of God’s love, they instinctively know this is the way God wants us to care for people in our families, our neighborhoods, and our world.. “We reach out to people other churches don’t want, or to people who, for some reason, don’t feel comfortable in other churches.” Rudy says it’s simple: “Love always involves risks.”
The heart of every believer will resonate with the powerful message of Touch. But that message goes beyond the surface and gives hope and inspiration to anyone searching for a light. “At the end of the day, people want to know that God is big enough and loving enough to reach into their deepest needs and change their lives. My whole theology boils down to the greatness and the grace of God.”
Rudy writes about the transformation of his own life and the way God is using him to touch others with His love: “As I read story after story of Jesus’ interaction with people, I realized He still wants to touch people like He was touching me. I opened my heart to Jesus and began the most life –changing relationship ever known to man. He touched me just like He touched the leper, the blind man, the crippled guy, the kids and the dead girl. They were all forgiven and given new life. So was I!
The more I experienced the touch of His love, kindness, forgiveness and strength. God caused a revolution in my heart. I began to see myself as an advocate for the marginalized around me: drug addicts, homeless people, gays and lesbians, gang members, and misfits – people I had never cared for before.”
Rudy’s book challenges and inspires. It reminds readers of God’s incredible grace, and it compels them to let that grace fill them and overflow in acts of kindness, strength, and love to “the least of these” around them.
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