Why Should One Care About International Poverty?

"Whoever closes his ear to the cry of the poor will himself call out and not be answered" (Proverbs 21:13, English Standard Version).

This information comes from the Christian Relief Fund:

"Hunger Facts...

*963 million people across the world are hungry.

*Every day, almost 16,000 children die from hunger-related causes--one child every five seconds.

*In essence, hunger is the most extreme form of poverty, where individuals or families cannot afford to meet their most basic need for food.

*Hunger manifests itself in many ways other than starvation and famine. Most poor people who battle hunger deal with chronic undernourishment and vitamin or mineral deficiencies, which result in stunted growth, weakness and heightened susceptibility to illness.

*Countries in which a large portion of the population battles hunger daily are usually poor and often lack the social safety nets we enjoy, like soup kitchens, food stamps, and job training programs. When a family that lives in a poor country cannot grow enough food or earn enough money to buy food, there is nowhere to turn for help."

You may check out http://www.christianrelieffund.org/ for more information about poverty and how to help.

Making a World of Difference

"He...must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need" (Ephesians 4:28).

Every year at this time, federal employees (both civilian and military) have an opportunity to designate a portion of their pay checks for the next year to a variety of charities of their choice through the Combined Federal Campaign. The theme of this year's campaign is Making a World of Difference. These are my choices and recommendations for this year:

Christian Relief Fund (CFC#11862)--The Christian Relief Fund is an organization dedicated to "fighting hunger and poverty internationally by providing food, medicine, educational support, Christian disaster relief and humanitarian aid to children and families in developing countries." More information can be obtained at www.christianrelieffund.org.

Pioneer Bible Translators (CFC#11481)--Pioneer Bible Translators "work in nine countries to assist native language speakers in translating the Bible, providing literacy training, establish/strengthen churches, and train nationals for partnership." More information can be found at www.pioneerbible.org.

International Justice Mission (CFC#85320)--International Justice Mission "rescues victims of violent oppression including slavery and sex trafficking, ensures aftercare services, pursues perpetrator accountability in local courts and encourages preventative structural change." More information is available at www.ijm.org.

If you are a federal employee, please consider these charities. Each organization helps people in need in different, but necessary, ways. If you know a federal employee, please let him or her know about these organizations. Thanks for reading!

Global Food Crisis Part 2

This is from the most recent newsletter of the Christian Relief Fund (http://www.christianrelieffund.org):

"Spiralling food costs--called a 'silent tsunami' by the World Food Program--have sparked protests and food riots in 34 countries. The head of the UN World Food Program, Josette Sheeran, described the current food price crisis as a 'global hunger emergency.' The increase in food prices is costing the lives of 250,000 people every 10 days. Up to 100 million people are being pushed back into poverty. Rice prices have gone up as much as 250 percent in the past year.

"The world's poorest are the most vulnerable...

"Rising fuel prices have made transportation of foodstuffs increasingly expensive...

"Another factor creating the food crisis is that several African nations who used to produce enough food to feed their own populations are no longer able to do so. Zimbabwe used to export food to other southern African nations. Now because of civil unrest and internal wars, Zimbabwe's people are starving. Other African nations suffering food shortages are: South Africa, Malawi (annual, chronic shortages), Kenya (recent political instability saw food stores of certain tribes burned while others missed the planting season), and southern Sudan.

"The deputy of the UNCHR recently cited the huge number of refugees around the world. Wars and unrest have caused many to leave their homes and not plant during this spring season. The most vulnerable in this spiraling cost of basic foods are: refugees, internally displaced people groups, urban poor not living on farms, and orphans."

Global Food Crisis

"Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice
and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free
and break every yoke?
Is is not to share your food with the hungry
and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter---
when you see the naked, to clothe him,
and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
Then your light will break forth like the dawn,
and your healing will quickly appear;
then your righteousness will go before you,
and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.
Then you will call, and the LORD will answer;
you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I" (Isaiah 58:6-9, NIV).

The Christian Chronicle contains several good articles and columns about the current global food crisis. Here are a few:

http://www.christianchronicle.org/article2158357~A_global_food_crisis%3F
http://www.christianchronicle.org/article2158356~Generosity_needed_in_tight_economy
http://www.christianchronicle.org/article2158355~Throwing_more_than_crumbs_at_the_hungry

If you would like to help the poor internationally, you may contact the Christian Relief Fund (http://www.christianrelieffund.org) at

crfinfo@christianrelieffund.org

1-800-858-4038

P.O. Box 19670
Amarillo, TX 79114-1670

If you would like to help the poor in Tulsa, you may contact the Contact Church of Christ (http://www.contactchurch.net) at

mph2157@yahoo.com

(918) 447-1130

1529 W. 49th St.
Tulsa, OK 74107

Update on the Violence in Kenya

"If a man shuts his ears to the cry of the poor,
he too will cry out and not be answered" (Proverbs 21:13, NIV).

The Christian Relief Fund has posted an update on the situation in Kenya at http://www.christianrelieffund.org/Kenya.htm.

(Another post worth reading on their site may be found at http://www.christianrelieffund.org/Colonias.htm. It provides an opportunity to help poor Hispanic immigrants and migrant workers in south Texas.)

Yunior

"He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor" (Psalm 112:9, NIV).

Today, we received information about our sponsored child from the Christian Relief Fund. Yunior is a six-year old boy from the Dominican Republic, a nation in the Caribbean that shares an island with Haiti. He lives with his parents and two siblings. Although both parents work, they cannot make enough money to meet their family's needs in such a poor country. Their house is made from various materials and has a tin roof. They have sparse furnishings.

With sponsorship, Yunior will be able to go to school. He will receive clothing, basic medical care, and spiritual training from local Christians. The family will also be supplied with food supplements.

For several years, Janet and I sponsored a girl in El Salvador through the Christian Relief Fund. However, shortly after we adopted our son Christopher, the girl left the program. At that time, we decided against another sponsorship. However, we believe sponsoring Yunior will help him and his family, as well as allow Christopher an opportunity to learn about conditions in much of the world and how to be compassionate toward people in different circumstances.

After seeing Yunior's photograph, Christopher asked, "Why are we sending money for him?" I explained that Yunior's family could not provide everything he needed. Christopher responded, "He probably needs food." Yes, he does. It's good to see him recognizing a need and wanting to meet it at five years old.

If anyone else would like to start sponsoring a child through the Christian Relief Fund, you may contact the group at http://www.christianrelieffund.org.

New Year's Resolutions 2008

With God's help, I intend to follow through with these resolutions for 2008:

1. I plan to read through the Bible. I will be using the daily reading plan from RBC Ministries (which can be found at the bottom of the Our Daily Bread devotional article each day at http://www.rbc.org) and the New International Version as my text.

"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work" (2 Timothy 3:16-17, NIV).

2. I plan to spend several minutes each day praying for my family, friends, co-workers, the church, various ministries, and leaders of the government. Praying for others helps prevent me from being self-absorbed, helps me to care more about others, helps the people I'm praying for as God answers my prayers for them, and brings glory to God who is able to do what I can merely ask to be done.

"I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone---for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth" (1 Timothy 2:1-4, NIV).

3. Janet and I plan to sponsor a child living in poverty somewhere in the world through the Christian Relief Fund (http://www.christianrelieffund.org/). While far from rich by American standards, we recognize that we are rich by global standards. We feel compelled to help a child in need.

"Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life" (1 Timothy 6:17-19, NIV).

Please read Rubel Shelly's "New Year's Prayer" at http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200801/20080101_newyearsprayer.html for a great article to start your new year. Happy New Year!

Combined Federal Campaign 2007

"And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased" (Hebrews 13:16, NIV).

Every Fall, federal employees get an opportunity to fill out a form in order for deductions to be made from their paychecks to the charities of their choice. Several hundred charities are listed in the brochure. Both military and civilian employees may participate in the program, the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC).

This week, I brought the brochure and form home to discuss with Janet. After some thought, we decided to donate to the same charities we have designated for years: Christian Relief Fund (http://www.christianrelieffund.org) and Pioneer Bible Translators (http://www.pbtusa.org).

The Christian Relief Fund (CFC #11862) is an organization operated by members of Churches of Christ and Christian Churches. It works around the world to alleviate poverty. For a number of years, Janet and I sponsored a girl in El Salvador through the organization, until she left the sponsorship program. With so many needs around the globe, we believe it is important for Christians to help however possible, and the Christian Relief Fund makes it possible for us to help in a small way.

Pioneer Bible Translators (CFC #11481) is also run by members of Christian Churches and Churches of Christ. It works to translate the Bible into languages that have no Bibles at this time. In addition, its members teach native people how to read, because most of them are not only deprived of the Bible but of literacy as well. This group engages in frontier mission work, taking the good news of Christ to people who have never heard of him.

Every year, we are able to talk to the people who operate the Christian Relief Fund and Pioneer Bible Translators, because both charities have booths at the Tulsa International Soul Winning Workshop. (Next year, we may get an additional opportunity to visit with them when the National Missionary Convention of the Christian Churches and Churches of Christ meets in Tulsa.) It is good to be able to see the people who work with these organizations at least once a year.

International Orphans

I found the following information on the Christian Relief Fund web site (http://www.christianrelieffund.org):

700,000 children live in Ukraine's orphanages today.

65% to 75% of the children in ophanages are there due to alcoholism in their homes.

15% of the orphans commit suicide within one year of leaving an orphanage.

70% of boys are arrested within 3 years of leaving an orphanage.

60% of girls are involved in prostitution within 2 years of leaving an orphanage. Twenty-thousand prostitutes live in the capitol city (Kiev), and the typical prostitute is a 19 year old orphan.

The world's children are crying out for Christians who will care for them. God wants his people to help these children and others like them (James 1:27).

Jason and Erin Carley are preparing to adopt a little boy from Vietnam soon. (Erin is Gary and Mary Lasarsky's daughter, and George Sly's granddaughter---see yesterday's post.) The Carleys are doing something special in providing a home for their son. I know that they will be incredibly blessed by his presence, just as he will be by their's.

It is not possible for everyone to adopt, but everyone can encourage those who do. Perhaps we can support organizations like the Christian Relief Fund or an adoption agency (like Christian Services of Oklahoma) with money, prayer, and volunteering. The world is full of needs and opportunities to meet them (and the blessings of meeting those needs are indescribable).

Real and Impersonal Love

"As it is written: 'He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever'"(2 Corinthians 9:9, NIV).

Yesterday, I wrote, "Following Jesus means learning to love people, not just good causes." While that is true, it may be misleading. After all, I have rarely met people who support good causes who did not love people also.

In 2 Corinthians, the apostle Paul was writing to a church that had committed itself to the cause of supporting a church hundreds of miles away, a poor church with members that most of them did not know and would never meet personally. The Corinth church supported the cause of aiding the Jerusalem church because the Corinth church was motivated by a love for fellow Christians, not because they knew each other well.

I have been thinking about the good and generous people who never knew me, but who have supported a cause that has helped me. Because they loved someone that they did not know, I benefited from scholarship funds to attend Oklahoma Christian University. Because they supported Christian Services of Oklahoma, Janet and I were able to adopt Christopher. Because they supported the cause of translating the Bible into modern English, I can read from the New American Standard Bible, the New International Version, and many other fine translations of God's word. I am thankful that God has used people to bless my life in numerous ways.

I want to help people in similar ways. I want to care about people personally, and I want to support good causes that help people impersonally. I may never know who has benefited from my support of Christian Services of Oklahoma, the Christian Relief Fund, Oklahoma Christian University, Pioneer Bible Translators, or other causes. However, if people are helped by my support, then it is worth it.