I don’t think any parent wants to see their children struggle. I can’t speak for anyone else, but I would move heaven and earth to help my children regain their footing if they fell on hard times. I would help with immediate needs, but I would pour even more resources into a solution. We would do what was necessary to overcome the cause of the struggle. Only meeting the situational need does not represent a parent’s heart or God’s heart, but that’s what most of our services to the poor do.

People often ask if there are ways that they can be involved in ministry and we offer them several opportunities to develop relationships and equip people to better handle the challenges of life. Their response often goes something like this, “Oh…don’t you just have a service project we can do to help you out? Maybe we can do a food drive or collect diapers? Do you all do Christmas for the kids or need help delivering Thanksgiving baskets?” They want to treat the symptom, but aren’t willing to help overcome the cause.

John Perkins is a man who has devoted his life to the service of others. He is a pioneer in fighting for justice and equality. In his book, With Justice For All, he says, “There are two reactions to poverty and injustice – social service and social action. Social service takes a food basket to a needy family at Christmas; social action tries to eliminate the conditions which produce the hunger.” John Perkins understands God’s Plan for the poor. We must invest in solutions and give people a future.

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