Reed Mueller

Today, the power of personal publishing is working full force to educate more than 12.4 million readers (as of this moment) about what they can do to make a dent in poverty. It’s been interesting seeing this pop up on some of the blogs that I follow (like this one). Unfortunately, I’ve yet to see one of the church leadership blogs I read post anything on the subject. This is regrettable as we – the church – should be in the lead on such things (e.g., Matthew 25:32-46; James 1:27; Micah 6:8). But this is beside the point. The real question is “What can we do?” So let’s ask it…

What can you do to make a difference in a world so full of poverty? Let me suggest three things:

1. Educate yourself on what others are doing for just over a dollar a day. Read just one or two of the posts on Michael Thelander’s A Song of Africa blog and you’ll see how much of a difference can be made in a life halfway across the globe through the simple gift of child sponsorship.
2. Then, if you’ve not yet chosen to sponsor a child in Mhlosheni, Swaziland, consider it. About $36.00 per month will sustain them, their household (if they’re fortunate enough to have parents), and their community even in the midst of severe drought and an overwhelming HIV/AIDS infection rate. If on the other hand you’re already sponsoring a child from Mhlosheni, pray for them, write them, and consider a “gift notification” which could supply even more for your child. For help on either of these options, email erin [at] teammueller [dot] com.
3. Finally, get your hands dirty locally. This quarter our community ministries team is hosting a work day at SnowCAP, a local community food pantry, on the morning of November 8th. Email rickberry [at] columbiaridge [dot] org for details and to sign up. If that’s not your idea of fun, there are many other volunteer opportunities in the area – email me and I can help find some for you!

There is no doubt that you can alleviate a little suffering…and that together we can alleviate much suffering! The question is, will we?