Krista and I just got home from seeing the documentary, Call + Response. It was a powerful 90 minute presentation with a mix of music and exposé regarding the vast crisis of human slavery around the world.  I’m still processing what we saw, but it was Krista’s second time seeing it, so she has already posted her “response” on her site, which I recommend.

http://pendrops.wordpress.com

(One of the guys who was interviewed in the film actually posted a comment on her site yesterday!  See comment from Kevin Bales in the comment section of her post.)

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I took two showers yesterday.  That was probably eight or nine gallons of clean, drinkable water.  Just like every other day, it didn’t cross my mind to be thankful for clean, running water.  I’ve had it all of my life and have never had a reason to doubt that it would be there when I turned the knob.  The story is the same with the other 190 gallons I used yesterday.

This is not the situation for almost half of humanity.  Here are some of the startling statistics:

• Some 1.1 billion people in developing countries have inadequate access to water, and 2.6 billion lack basic sanitation.
• There are around 1.8 million child deaths each year as a result of diarrhea.
• 443 million school days are lost each year from water-related illness.
• Close to half of all people in developing countries are suffering at any given time from a health problem caused by water and sanitation deficits. (Source)

The answer is not to sit around feeling guilty about the water we use.  That would not benefit anyone.  Plus, I don’t want you taking fewer showers.  That would be adding one problem to another.

One thing we can do is to support organizations like Blood:Water Mission as part of our regular monthly giving.  B:WM has delivered clean water to over 276,000 people in Africa.  If you are wondering how you could possibly help, their website says that $1 provides one year of clean water for an African.

One dollar.  One year.  One person.

Let us continue to align ourselves with God’s heartbeat for the poor.  Even if we aren’t the ones digging the wells, our support of an organization like Blood:Water Mission can connect us with the ways that God is at work in the pain of poverty throughout the world.

Along with one.org, there have been other movements over the past 3 decades that have raised awareness and moved people to action regarding a variety of humanitarian crises. Unfortunately, the abundance of pop stars supporting these causes makes it seem like the “hip” thing to do. At first glance this may seem like a good thing. Helping the poor as “the latest trend” may bring a lot of help to people who otherwise wouldn’t receive it, right? Temporarily, yes. However, passing fads are just that: passing.

This latest movement toward helping the needy may be a societal blip on the radar. However, within the church I think we are seeing a genuine awakening. Many churches have come together for ongoing efforts to help those displaced by Hurricane Katrina in the Gulf Coast. Even youth groups are more inclined than ever to put their hands to the plow, the hammer or the paint brush. The Church has always responded to phyical needs during times of crisis, but there seems to be more awareness beyond those temporary calls to action.

OutOfUr.com has an entry by Dan Kimball on this topic called “
“>Pop Justice: Is social action the latest church trend?” that’s worth checking out…

I had a very, very haunting conversation with a good friend who is a pastor at a church in southern California. We hadn’t seen each other for awhile and as we were catching up he was excited about a ministry he was starting with used clothing stores where all the profit goes to orphanages…

If you visited One.org, one of the things you would see is the fact that a lot of famous people, from George Clooney to Pat Robertson, have given their voice to draw people to the site. I’m not a big fan of social trends, especially when they are led by hollywood types who are severely disconnected from anything resembling real life. However, One.org is simply encouraging people to get involved and educated about two things: the needs of the poor around the world, and what our government is doing to respond.

Fighting hunger and poverty is a mission that crosses political lines. We have people in Congress from our neck of the woods that speak for us when it comes to what goes on with our tax dollars. America is a great country because we can call our representatives and say, “If you want my vote, do what I want!”

In addition, the mission to help the poor is one that has echoed in the Bible from the voice of the prophets to the hands-on action of Jesus. No matter the way we choose to respond, each generation is called to engage the problem of poverty in both hearts and hands. When we call our Senators, give to a ministry like World Vision, or to help build a home with Habitat for Humanity, we involve ourselves with God in what he is doing in our world.

The link below is to a site describing Sam Thompson’s quest to run 50 marathon treks in 50 states in 50 consecutive days. My first thought was that his purpose was to cripple himself, but actually it is to raise money and awareness for the needs in the Mississippi Gulf Coast as they continue to recover and rebuild after Hurricane Katrina’s devastation. The area is still reeling, with thousands living in trailers or without decent housing. As a new hurricane season approaches, there is a great need to support the area with our prayers, funds, and skills.

Sam is currently 14 days into his feat, and will conquer his 14th marathon today in Wichita, Kansas. Visit his site here:

http://www.50in50in50.com

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An opportunity exists to directly help a horrible situation in Africa where millions are at risk. Many of you already support ministries through your church, World Vision, Compassion International, and others who are making an effort to save and rebuild lives in situations like this.

However, please consider taking a look at the web links below regarding the crisis in Africa, as you may be led to give over and above what you are already giving. The situation is on the brink of rivaling the famine in the mid-80s, when almost one million people lost their lives because of the conditions (consider our response if this were happening in America!).

There are other organizations helping, but World Vision is one of those that has consistently proven itself to be trustworthy and full of integrity, with 87% of their revenue going into programs for children and families.

At the very least, pray for those involved as God brings it to mind, and continue giving as God leads.

Here is a short video for review
(This is a video of aid workers in the field talking about the problem—not one of those dramatized videos of people dying).

And a press release about the crisis.

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If you have missed the push for donations to help the those devastated by Hurricane Katrina then you haven’t been paying much attention lately. Along with the Red Cross I would also recommend World Vision. WV is an organization that has been involved in effectively helping people in need since the 1950’s. Their American Families Assistance Fund works in partnership with local churches and Christian agencies to meet immediate needs and to provide long-term assistance to Hurricane Katrina victims. Click below to read about it and consider making a donation if you are able.

http://worldvision.org