Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
I would like to hear some opinions on charity.
I have a great deal of experience in the operation of it as regards refugees, poor, etc. in the Far East.
However, I come home to a church that sends hundreds and hundreds of pounds to Africa and Asia, India in particular.
Yet there are poverty stricken members of the church who are ignored completely and not even offered any assistance and are greeted with an embarrased silence when they ask for some.
Personally, having seen much of what is sent abroad either wasted or stolen I feel every church should draw up a roll of the old, poor and needy in their own congregation.
What else are churches for?
Old member have special needs such as a group of younger members turning up to tidy up their garden, cut the grass, etc.
Financially most would be independant if granted the price of a good car when other wealthy members of the church are renewing their's every year or so.
They usually own the equipment such as lawnmowers, but are prevented from using them through afflictions such as athritis, etc.
Or simply old age.
Recovering the roofs of their garden sheds blown off in gales.Repainting the sheds are other difficult and far too expensive tasks for an elderly person to call in a professional.
Young people especially simply cannot understand how much the world has changed since the 1920's in so many ways. Accelerated by World War II by scientific research and now they are facing having everyday objects such as Radio and TV becoming useless simply because a government decides to change over to a completely different system of broadcasting.
They just can't afford the new equipment. Should they suffer simply because they are old?
There has always been poor but it is undisputed fact that the gap between the rich and poor is rapidly increasing and is far greater than two hundred years ago. All will have to give account to God for that one day.
The "Make Poverty History" is almost laughable as invariably both pop stars and politicians head to some place overseas when the poor are on their own doorstep.
Your opinions are looked forward to with great interest.
God bless you all.
reekie