Last one. I promise. Then I will go back to more mundane things. So, for those of you who have tuned out this section (congratulations if you have gotten this far), please don’t tune out forever.
When I started, I really didn’t realize I would have so much to say. But the juices got flowing. I obviously need an editor. (It’s worse when I talk, trust me.)
So let me just sum up here:
1. We are commanded to care about the poor, and to care for them.
2. Make sure you are helping, not hurting (and not giving just to relieve your conscience).
3. God wants to use all of you, not just your money, to do His work to help the poor. Consider the idea that He might want your family involved in more “mess” than you may have realized.
Other ideas:
1. Intentionally move into a low-income neighborhood.
2. Invite a college student from a low-income family to live with you, rent free. (My parents have done this for 5 years. Yay, Mom and Dad!)
3. Volunteer at a pregnancy center, or a women’s shelter, or a children’s home.
4. Become a foster parent.
5. Adopt an international orphan or financially support someone who wants to.
6. Tutor kids from a low-income neighborhood (but kids’ ministry should always be a bridge to family ministry, never an end in itself).
7. Cultivate your own strong marriage and help others cultivate theirs (since that’s the very best way to keep kids out of poverty).
Other ideas? Anyone?
I don’t have it all together. My primary purpose in Tanzania is not poverty alleviation. But I can’t ignore it when it is all around me. May some of what I have learned be a means for God to teach you as well.
Thanks for reading!
Jen
I've loved your poverty posts! Don't stop writing like this. 🙂
Amy Medina
Thanks so much, Jen!
Unknown
will be face booking this series – awesome!
naomi
hooray! me too; I've enjoyed your series!
I would add to the list: do as many of those things as possible WITH other believers – – as the church!!! God intends to care for his world through his family, and we will be more effective in caring about and for the poor if we do it with someone else who also loves Jesus and understands God's plan to care for the world through his COMMUNITY!
(um I think I just said the same things three times . . . 🙂 )
for example:
move into a low-income neighborhood (with two or three other Christ-loving families!)
OR
Tutor kids from a low-income neighborhood (with another Christian!)
OR
Cultivate your own strong marriage and help others cultivate theirs (and do it along side of another Christ centered couple!)
what do you think?
Amy Medina
thanks, Julie!
And Naomi….you mean we're supposed to do more than just potluck together? 🙂
YES, YES!
Anonymous
Thanks for this series of posts. Keep sharing your observations from outside the american christian bubble. Sarah W.
Anonymous
Love these poverty posts! I printed them and shared them at Bible study. We are all try to figure out what we can do to help people here in the states. You have inspired us. 🙂
naomi
um, and tag "take a potluck dish" to all those things too 🙂
Brenda
I always enjoy your insights and have been challenged by them. Particularly by the give them a job idea. Ryan has given me the ok to hire someone to help out with the house a few times a month, but I have been putting it off. Between parenting, schooling, ministry and pregnancy I could use the help but- I feel like I should be able to do my own work. I love the idea that it could free up some more ministry time in a tight schedule!
Also, I wanted to tell you we signed adoption placement papers for Cameron last week, just waitin for a court date- yahoo!
Love to you & yours!