Hope and Justice in Difficult Times
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Last week ONE joined with hundreds of leaders at the National Association of Evangelicals “Evangelical Leaders Forum” at First Baptist Church of Glenarden in nearby Landover, Maryland mobilizing action in the fight global poverty alongside other national and global challenges. The consensus here is that despite many differences and difficulties, there is hope when we work together in achieving positive change.
ONE was a cosponsor of the event, along with Micah Challenge USA, where we led discussion and discernment in how churches can best raise awareness and act in concern around AIDS, clean water, education and maternal health issues through ONE Sabbath and Micah Sunday. Other ONE partners such as Bread for the World, Save Darfur, and World Relief were also in attendance.
Friday morning we heard from Wesleyan General Superintendent and ONE Sabbath supporter Jo Anne Lyon on the importance of the church’s role in working to end poverty by direct relief and development as well as its role in advocacy to elected leaders. Lyon, in reflecting on Psalm 82 , made a compelling and passionate plea for the church to work towards women empowerment, continued AIDS initiatives like PEPFAR, as well as leadership for care for the environment – because “the world’s poor are hurt first and worst” amidst the climate crisis. Later at lunch, former President George W. Bush’s speechwriter and adviser Michael Gerson gave an eyewitness account of the President’s historic PEPFAR initiative and his on the ground stories of seeing US funds at work to rebuild a community in Ethiopia.
It was a spirited couple of days of conversation and calling – I look forward to the action that will come out of this national gathering in the days to come.
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The ONE Blog is a daily log of the anti-poverty movement. The site is operated by ONE staff, with frequent contributions from volunteers, members and partner organizations.
The ONE Blog updates readers daily with the latest in global development news and analysis and what ONE members and our partners are doing around the world to influence world leaders in the fight against global poverty.
The content of each post and each comment represents the views of that author and does not necessarily reflect the views of ONE or ONE Action. ONE does not support or oppose any candidate for elected office, and any post expressing support or opposition for a candidate is not endorsed by ONE.
October 13, 2009 at 3:19 pm
As has happened so many times in the past evangelicals feel a need to push their morals and religions upon the people of other countries. If they stay out of that arena then I welcome them into the fold. We don’t need judgement and proselytizing in these matters.
October 13, 2009 at 5:43 pm
Isn’t it time that we stop seeing colors and boarders, and start seeing what we truly are? Fellow inhabitants of this rock called earth, fellow human beings. It is past the time to wave our hands and speak soft words as we pass by those who need us. It is time we reach out our hands to help them along the journey!
Banks and automiles will still be around long after we are gone, but those who are suffering in poverty only have ONE life they can live, Why must they spend that life in agony while our government continues to line the pockets of greedy corporate giants?
I have hope for not just our nation, but for ALL of mankind, but hope cannot do it alone. Hope needs action in order to be fulfilled.
October 13, 2009 at 5:57 pm
Robert Gonzalez,
Are those evangelicals any more judgemental than you are being now?
If someone wishes to ignore the word of God, they have the option to turn and walk away, but why must those who crave his words be denied because others choose just because others choose to be denied?
If evangelicals are reaching out with the word of God to others, why is it your choice to deny them that?
October 13, 2009 at 8:57 pm
Mr. Colborn,
My judgement, as you say, is based on observation of past behavior. Aside from some of the most embarassing scandals, evangelicals have only served to impose themselves on countless others. As usual it is people like you who have decided they crave His words. This is a choice we must all make individually. Evangelicals have had a long and sordid history of cramming their morals and beliefs on those who they only “think” crave the Word. If people want to hear the Word they will ask. It is not up to you or anyone else to determine that for them.
October 13, 2009 at 9:01 pm
…and as I suspected, yours is a hidden agenda. Why can’t you simply feed and love people for who they are without trying to save them? Just because they are poor and hungry doesn’t mean they should be imposed upon by primitive beliefs that they need to be saved.
October 13, 2009 at 10:11 pm
I do not have an “agenda”… I am here only to offer my support to end poverty. I do on the other hand take issue with the “I support their help, but ONLY if they don’t talk about things I personally do not believe in.”
And I do not impose my beliefs onto others, but I take offense when I have others attack the fundementals of what I believe in over someone elese’s false sense of entitlement of thinking that you have some right to never be offended.
Evangelicals have a calling in life, and that is to reach out to the lost in an effort to gather the flock, that is what they do. Those who do not wish the to hear the messege are not forced to, but it is very counter productive to say “I don’t think evangelicals should be offering aid to end poverty if they are going to preach something I personally do not believe in while doing it…”