Titus 3:14 NLT
Our people must learn to do good by meeting the urgent needs of others; then they will not be
unproductive.
Often
I meet people in our community that have huge needs. My heart goes out to them, and my heart aches
that we can do very little for them.
There are all kinds of reasons why these needs go unmet.
One
reason is that there are not enough resources to meet the need. Another reason for unmet needs is that we
don’t have what the person needs such as enough work or a homeless
shelter. A reason that gets me and makes
me ask lots of questions are the ones who don’t want help. I’ve met several of those people.
That
last category of people come in many different stages of life. It may be the young adult who has chosen not
to let go of addiction. It could be the
older man or women who has too much pride to let others help them. Maybe it is even the fact that people are
skeptical of those who want to help. I
am sure there are other reasons, but again it makes my heart hurt when needs go
unmet.
Several
years ago God laid on my heart the huge need of our region to have an ongoing
shelter for men and for families. About three
years ago we met a family of six people.
Mom and the four kids were in the women’s shelter while dad was staying
in his vehicle moving it from place to place.
We were able to help this family find a home, but they continue to
struggle.
What
continues to tug at my heart is the fact that one church or one organization
cannot meet all these needs on our own.
In fact we are weak on our own.
It is not until we form partnerships and begin to work together that unmet
needs begin to be met. How are these
needs going to be met?
The
beginning is for people to see needs.
The next step is doing something about the need that is seen. It is incredible to meet new people in our
community that have a heart to serve the people who live around us.
Last
week as we opened the emergency winter shelter I was able to meet several new
friends from churches and organizations in our city and county. Their hearts are similar to mine. They ache for hurting people. They are willing to join forces to meet
needs. That is a big deal. That is something to get excited about.
Yet
there are some obstacles that have to be overcome so we can partner and meet
unmet needs. It is time to stop worrying
about ownership of the project and start doing something about it. Someone has to lead. Resources have to be shared.
From
my perspective and so many others we are baffled when people don’t accept help,
yet the only thing that will change that is relationships. Remember, people don’t care how much you know
until they know how much they care. As
Matthew Barnett said, “whoever shows up most in someone’s life wins the battle
of influence.”
My
desire is to show up and build relationships.
As people begin to trust me and our ministry we will be able to
influence them for Christ. That’s my
desire above all else.
The
reason for the tragedy of unmet needs is we often aren’t willing stick around
long enough to win the right to speak in to people’s lives. Join me.
Join our church and Dream Center.
Partner with a church in your community, and begin to meet unmet needs.
Matthew 20:28 NLT
For even the
Son of Man came not to be served
but to serve others and to give his life as a
ransom for many.
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