Acts 11:27-28:
During this time some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. One of them, named Agabus, stood up and through the Spirit predicted that a severe famine would spread over the entire Roman world. (This happened during the reign of Claudius.)
The famine had not happened yet. The shelves were not empty yet. No one was desperate yet. And still, the church acted.
Acts 11:29-30
The disciples, as each one was able, decided to provide help for the brothers and sisters living in Judea. This they did, sending their gift to the elders by Barnabas and Saul.
This was not panic giving. This was proactive obedience. They acted before the need arose.
What makes this moment even more striking is that Antioch itself would not be spared. If a famine was going to affect “the entire Roman world,” Antioch would feel it too. In other words, they were not giving out of surplus confidence that they would be fine. They were giving while knowing hardship might come to them as well.
They chose generosity before necessity forced their hand.
Over the years, whenever an employee joined my team at work, I shared the following advice with them on day one. I talked about four types of people when it comes to work.
- The first type does the job, then hides—hoping no one notices, so no more responsibility comes their way.
- The second type does the job and waits—motionless—until someone tells them what to do next.
- The third type does the job, then goes back and asks, “What else needs to be done?”
- The fourth type does the job, and while doing it, keeps an eye on what else needs to be done, and does it while keeping their manager updated.
Leaders are almost always person number four.
In Acts 11, we see a church full of “number four” disciples.
They saw what was coming. They trusted the Spirit’s warning. They assessed their ability-” as each one was able.” And they acted accordingly.
The Antioch church did not know how severe the famine would be. They did not know how long it would last. They did not know what their own future would look like. They simply knew this: God has spoken, and they needed to obey.
May Hillside be that kind of church.
At Hillside, we may not always know what the next season will bring. We do not always see the full picture, the timeline, or the outcome. But we do sense where God is leading us—to care well for one another, to steward what He has entrusted to us, and to step forward in faith rather than wait for perfect conditions. Like the church in Antioch, we are called to listen carefully to the Spirit and respond with trust, even when obedience feels early or costly.
Proactive obedience is not about having all the answers; it is about having a willing heart. As each one is able, we move together—serving, giving, and supporting one another—believing that God honors a church that acts before it is forced to, loves before it is asked to, and follows before the road is fully visible.
By God’s grace, may Hillside be a “number four” church—seeing what needs to be done and stepping into it before being asked.
Your servant,
David Gunardi