We Need the Poor!

“In the poor we meet Jesus in the most distressing disguises.”
Mother Teresa

WE NEED THE POOR!

We need the poor? I thought the poor needed us! The truth is we need each other. Through our acts of compassion, the poor will have tangible evidence of a loving God and an opportunity to hear the Good News. As Christians we will be spiritually revitalized as we rely on God, sacrifice our resources and trust in God to accomplish the “good works he has prepared in advance for us to do.” (Eph. 2:10) Best of all we will have the privledge of directly serving Jesus himself as we feed, clothe, visit & comfort the least of these. (Matthew 25:31-46)

Fifteen years ago I was called to serve the least of these in East Palo Alto, California. I had to leave lots of things behind...my corporate income, career aspirations, my safe community…but I gained so much more. My faith in God and my understanding of His word grew tremendously. I saw Jesus in the people I served and had to depend on Him for wisdom, provision and a fruitful ministry.

Those days seem but a distant haze as I fulfill my new role as a mom, live in my safe neighborhood and seek after things that have no eternal value. The pull of the material world continues to take my mind off His call to serve those I once was passionate about, people who became my family, my daily prayer concerns. I need the poor. I need the word. I need to redirect my resources.

Recently we have been called as a church (Peninsula Covenant Church in Redwood City) to “Risk it All“. God has called on me to step out and take a risk by starting a “Compassion and Justice Community. This community is for people who are concerned about the poor and committed to acting compassionately towards them. It is for Christians who desire to seek root causes to problems in our community and take action. Together we will seek ways to encourage the oppressed, defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the cause of the widow. (Isaiah 1:17) As a community we will:

· MEET Sunday mornings at 11 am at PCC in room starting Sept. 30 through December
· PRAY and MEDITATE on Scripture about the poor
· READ weekly from books related to Compassion and Justice issues
· SERVE the least of these in our community

Yes! This is a big commitment. It will stretch you and grow you in ways you may never have imagined. Join us for the journey.
For more information contact Virginia Huffman @ virginia@vine-design.com