Do you ever feel helpless when considering the extreme poverty present in our global community? Do the eyes of hungry children from devastated regions haunt you as you tuck your healthy little ones into bed? This past week I was challenged to think more deeply about the extreme poverty experienced by children and families in many distressed parts of the world.
The annual Leadership Summit, sponsored by the Willowcreek Association, focused this year on what Bill Hybels called, “A New Reality.” As the economic downturn affects more and more Americans, as we tighten our belts, we begin to appreciate more personally the plight of the poor in our greater global community.
The conference highlighted a challenge by Andrew Rugasira, founder of Good African Coffee, to change the conversation about Africa, to begin to see the millions there as a potential market and a resource of entrepreneurs. (As he put it, you have to be a true entrepreneur to manage on one dollar a day.) His call was to change the conversation regarding Africa to “Trade not Aid.” Andrew challenges the historical African practice of exporting only raw materials with his commitment to add value to those materials right in Africa and develop industry and jobs that will bring opportunity and dignity as Africans provide for themselves.
Additionally, Jessica Jackley, Co-founder of KIVA, addressed our sense of helplessness by demonstrating the power of small things. KIVA is a website for peer to peer micro lending, connecting those who have as little of $25.00 to lend with creative entrepreneurs around the world who can transform their lives with such micro loans. These are practical ways one person can make a difference. There are ways to help. Purchase a new brand of coffe, lend our pocket change to a budding business person around the world.
Bill Hybels closed the Summit with a simple challenge to all. “Put the plight of those in extreme poverty on your personal radar, and then allow God’s Spirit lead you into the particular way you might wish to respond.” After this Summit, there’s definitely a new blip on my radar. How about yours?
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Better said would be to say respond the "way the Holy Spirit directs each one." If we follow His lead, we may not be comfortable, but we will be effective.
Interesting thoughts but I would encourage each of us to look about us right here at home. There are so many here that need encouragement. Are we looking to Appalachia? or to the poverty about us right here in Dallas? or to our own neighborhoods? I think this challenge is ever before us ...“Put the plight of those in extreme poverty on your personal radar, and then allow God’s Spirit lead you...." But I would challenge the last part.."into the particular way you might wish to respond." Perhaps God will move us out of our comfort zones and into ways we might not wish to respond so that He can be glorified. Remember the words of John the Baptist? John 3:30 He must increase, but I must decrease. I think that should be our principle each day. The question before us is: Now what will we do about it?
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