Atrocity and loss cause us to feel fearful, helpless and vulnerable in the face of an uncertain future. How can we help the poor, the refugee, the victim? What can one person do?
You may not be Mark Zuckerberg, giving 99% of his Facebook shares (valued at $45 billion!!!) to charitable causes. But you can give your prayers, yourself and your wealth.
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:21 NRSV
A skinny, tow-headed little boy intently tossed a pile of starfish from the sandy beach into the waves, returning them to their watery home. Dad asked, “Son, why are you wasting your time? Thousands of shellfish wash up on the sand and die. What does it matter? You can’t save them all!” “Well,” the boy replied as he continued his rescue, “it matters to this one, and this one, and this one…”
My favorite story!
God empowers us to save the world-one person at a time.
How can we fight terror and tragedy? How can we overcome our own fears?
- Recognize God’s mighty message of love and salvation.
- Remember God calls you to change the world.
- Rest in the truth that you are here on this troubled earth because more need the Good News of His love.
Start today. GIVE.
We have seen senseless killing of defenseless civilians at home and abroad. Homeless refugees flee in horror. Churches and schools no longer remain safe havens here at home.
What can you do? Which starfish can you save?
HOW CAN YOU GIVE?
- Give to your church. God asks us to tithe a tenth of our income. Your church already has in place mission organizations and charities that reach the needy in your community and abroad. Support them. Get involved by volunteering to go on short-term mission trips or feeding the homeless in nearby neighborhoods.
“Should people cheat God? Yet you have cheated me! “But you ask, ‘What do you mean? When did we ever cheat you?’
“You have cheated me of the tithes and offerings due to me. You are under a curse, for your whole nation has been cheating me. Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test…Then all nations will call you blessed, for your land will be such a delight,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.” Malachi 3:8-12 NLT
- Give out of your abundance. Sacrifice. Eat at home. Buy generic. Use your wardrobe longer. Cut up your credit cards and/or get out of debt. Close your computer. Amazon prime will still be there to take your money in the morning. Save gasoline. Make your money count.
- Help God’s servants already on the field. Some of these relief organizations,Bible translators and mission ministries may be unknown to you, but are recognized internationally as the best “bang for your buck.”
MAP (Medical Assistance Programs) International is a global Christian health and relief organization that partners with people living in conditions of poverty to save lives and develop healthier families and communities. MAP funds medicines, clinics, doctors, surgeons, vaccines and surgical supplies in the poorest countries around the world.
HOLT International is a network of orphanages run by nationals that began in North Korea. It is the only organization allowed in this closed country. HOLT helps orphans in areas where no one else is willing to go: like poverty-stricken, war-ravaged Afghanistan, Cambodia, India, Uganda and Vietnam, to name a few.
Wycliffe Associates uses exciting advances in technology, coupled with the work with national translators, to share the Gospel in every language. For persecuted translators, “A Bible in their hands is like a target on their backs.” The solution? Tablets. Around the world computer tablets and smartphones are so commonplace that fewer authorities scrutinize what people are doing on their personal devices. Wycliffe Associates empower local believers and church members to work on Bible translation efforts any time and any place without anyone else knowing!
Trans-World Radio is a multi-channel media outreach that engages millions in 160 countries with biblical truth in their heart language. For more than sixty years, God has equipped TWR to lead people from doubt to decision to discipleship.
The Gideons International is often remembered as the “hotel Bible ministry.” They focus on distributing Bibles. These copies of God’s Word are printed in more than 90 languages and are given directly to prisoners, soldiers, first responders, hospital patients, medical offices and schools. They are strategically placed in selected public locations where large numbers of people, who may be searching for answers, will have the ability to encounter the Word of God.
CRU, formerly known as Campus Crusade for Christ, trains NextGen missionaries on 1,140 college campuses in the U.S. CRU partners with churches sharing the Gospel with world leaders in Washington, the U.N., and empowering nationals with the Good News throughout the world. They teach 60,000 marriage and family conferences annually. My husband and I have numerous CRU missionaries that were saved, discipled and commissioned by our church. We have taught countless international conferences for CRU through the years.
Jesus spoke of sacrificial giving in a simple story:
“Sitting across from the offering box, he was observing how the crowd tossed money in for the collection. Many of the rich were making large contributions. One poor widow came up and put in two small coins—a measly two cents. Jesus called his disciples over and said, ‘The truth is that this poor widow gave more to the collection than all the others put together. All the others gave what they’ll never miss; she gave extravagantly what she couldn’t afford—she gave her all.” Mark 12:41-44 MSG
Save a starfish. Use what you have to change the world!