Do Your Part And Link Arms With Others
Every Christian cannot tackle systemic poverty, racial injustice, women’s rights, abortion, discrimination, and the dozens of other challenges in our world. But we can do our part.
I was fortunate to grow up in a family that placed a strong emphasis on seeing the overlooked. I can’t tell you the number of times we had someone in our home who didn’t fit the cultural norms of society. This was part of our daily rhythm and is a trend that has continued in our family.
I have five siblings, all with very Biblical names and each with a passion for caring for others. I credit my oldest brother, Joel, for being one of the key reasons I’m a Christian today. For years, he’s served as a pastor and selflessly given of himself to others.
Luke is often the first person to help when he sees someone in need. For nearly twenty years, my sister Dorcas has worked with and supported impoverished communities in Cincinnati, Ohio. When he lived in Michigan, my older brother Titus was involved in prison ministry and has shared numerous stories of personal transformation. And my younger sister Esther moved to Honduras where she works with her husband to pastor a church and start an elementary school for children.
Loving the overlooked has become a meaningful part of my life. When I lived in Cincinnati, it involved playing countless hours of basketball and sharing the gospel with teenagers in rough situations. When I moved to Virginia, I signed up to work at a local food pantry. And when we moved to Toronto, much of my days were spent with people in tough economic conditions.
There is something about working with unseen individuals that helps me better understand the heart of Christ. I need them more than they need me.
To this point, several years ago, when Janan and I moved to Idaho, it was a pretty tough time in our lives. I was just coming off a church plant that hadn’t gone as planned, and my confidence was at an all-time low. I felt misunderstood, discouraged, and in my own odd way, overlooked. Switching jobs, homes, and relational communities felt overwhelming.
But despite these feelings, one of the first steps I took was to sign our family up to volunteer at a local rescue mission. Nothing big. But a couple of times a month, we’d go, and I’d speak to a group of women who were going through hard times. And as I offered encouragement to others, I sensed a fresh wave of strength in return.
