“Get Close” | Shawn Williams

What was it like to be the leper in Matthew 8? How long had he suffered, isolated from others? What gave him the courage to approach Jesus? We explore the powerful story of the leper from Matthew 8:1-4 and Mark 1:40-45, where Jesus shows us that He is our source of hope—expressed in tangible, personal ways. Just as Jesus reached out to heal the leper, He brings us hope through compassion and tangible acts of healing.As we kick off Celebration of Hope, we’re reminded that Jesus draws near to the broken and outcast. He continues to transform lives today, and we are called to bring that same hope to others. Let’s open our hearts, understand their stories, and partner with God in His work!