In Our Own Back Yard

I recently had a bit of a disturbing conversation with someone regarding local charity needs as compared to world-wide charity needs. As you know, I am the executive director of a small, but growing, not-for-profit organization. I was sharing with this individual that from my perspective it is absolutely appropriate to ask and even encourage people outside of our ministry service area to join with us in helping to raise support for this ministry. I reminded this individual that people from all over the world were sending millions of dollars to help with the relief in Haiti, and the principle (from my perspective) is the same. This individual held the perspective that these to situations are not the same.

As I have thought and prayed more about that conversation, my resolve about this issue has become even stronger. It is very easy to recognize and see the dramatic needs present after a natural disaster like the earthquake in Haiti and develop a passion to come to their aid and yet overlook the immediate needs right in our own back yards. I don't in any way mean to minimize the needs of those dear people, because their situation is very critical, I am saying that we also have some very critical needs here in the US, in our states, counties, communities, and literally in our own back yards.

In the last few months, I have personally worked with many people who also have immediate needs, who were being evicted from their homes, have lost their jobs, are in financial crisis and don't know where to turn, have serious medical needs that are going unmet because they can't afford to get medical care, need help finding food to feed their families, and the list goes on and on. Our area is not unique in terms of serious needs arising for families and individuals, it is happening all across our country. From my perspective, we all must also be willing to step up and provide aid and financial support to agencies within our own country who are serving our own people who are in crisis just like we are being so diligent to help agencies who are serving those in other parts of the world who are in crisis. We have hurting people too.

It is so very difficult to hear the hard stories of people in pain and distress, knowing that they are longing for my help to meet their needs, and know that resources to help are very limited. At times I simply have to say, "I don't know what to tell you" or "I'm at a loss as to what to do to help you." These dear ones have come to me for help and there is so little I can do. This too is heartbreaking.

Please let me stress again that I am not proposing that we take an all or nothing perspective from either direction but that we take an "and" perspective. We must be mindful and supportive of others around the world AND those here at home who are in crisis. We must be careful that we don't become so worldly focused that we neglect the needy in our own back yard.

This is just a small glimpse of what my ministry involves. You are not going to hear about this on the nightly news or hear a large outcry to people across the nation or even the world to raise up and help. I just thought you ought to know. Welcome to my world. Blessings!