Unfortunately, this has been my experience as well. Most would not work. Once in a while, however, we have had people down on their luck work and even attend church a while. It was a joy to help these people.
do we really have thousands of homeless with no help?
Discussion in 'General Baptist Discussions' started by nodak, Dec 20, 2010.
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So now we get judged for not feeding the bucket???
I don't.
Instead we provided Christmas for one child with a disabled parent, warm winter outerwear (complete head to toe) for another, and funded a day of free daycare for 8 or 9 kiddies so single parents could shop for Christmas.
Having a mentally ill relative who often lives on the streets long ago convinced me not to give to panhandlers.
Why? Because it makes it possible for them to survive one more day without real treatment. That treatment can restore them to their families, their jobs, their churches, and their community.
I'd rather put the money into places that really help. -
Years ago, my wife worked for the Salvation Army. She said that some of the money that people collected was used to put people up in hotels, some for other needs the corps had, some went to help any person that needed help.
My wife's job with the SA? She was a bookkeeper.
If I am giving my money to help another person in need, I don't want part of it going to that needy person and the rest to a corporation. -
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A person is striving hard to find some reason to feel superior in order to respond the was this post reads. -
Thinkingstuff Active Member
Reading some of the replies on this thread is reminisant of reading a Charels Dickens novel. Do we really want to be compared with 19th century england?
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Maybe it would be in our best interest not to jump in with snide remarks and make assumptions based on a drive-by post. -
If a Church sees someone in need in their own neighborhood, but does nothing to help that one, they are no different than the priest and the Levite that turned their noses up at the man who was beaten and left for dead in the story of the certain Samaritan. If one of their members is obviously struggling, then it is the BODY's responsibility to minister to the member's need.
When you stub your toe or smash your thumb, your first reaction is to grab that toe or thumb and minister to it. Why? Because it is hurting. Well, people are hurting in practically every neighborhood in the world. And many Churches do nothing to minister to those needs.
By the way, people don't just hurt physically; i.e., hunger, sickness, lack of finances, etc.. There are many in our own communities that are hurting spiritually. -
Thinkingstuff Active Member
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They distribute 85-90% of funds to the needy families.
An ogranization like this is necessary for the complicated logistics alone in getting, transporting and distributing aid and funds to these families around the world. Unlike the UN organizations they actually get the help to the needy.
You will be given the names and addresses of the families you support and you can contact them at any time to insure that they are being helped.
They can/will also write to you. You will receive the original letter and a translation.
HankD -
I won't give to the bell ringers.. I do though give to mission work through our church.
I'm a Baptist, not apart of the Salvation Army church...
So judge me if you want.. but I am a good steward of what God has given.... That quarter that you put in the kettle, could have went into your home church's offering plate, and if your church is a Godly church, it would have the same effect... if it's not a Godly church, find a new church.
Giving should be done through your local church.. (Or, if you know someone in need, help them yourself.) -
This year I ended up helping a family that I know online for many years (I know she's legit). Hubby had a serious accident 2 years ago where he crushed his arm and he can no longer work in his job of a commercial plumber. So mom went to work. She found herself facing brain surgery 2 months ago because of such terrible migraines and they found it was a rather large cyst on her pineal gland right inside the center of her brain. She has 3 children, her oldest living at home with her own toddler and they also adopted a friend of their oldest's who has no home. So on this other board, we do an Angel Tree sort of thing and people adopt the families. Someone had already taken the two younger children and the granddaughter but the two older girls still needed to be adopted and can you believe the adopted daughter had never gotten any gifts EVER?? So I had fun shopping for them buying them a video they really loved (Beauty and the Beast), some PJ pants, coffee, make-up, gift cards to a drug store and Starbucks, a Bible for one of them and things like that. I spent well over my budget but you know what? I blessed a family who I KNOW is facing hard times. There is a good chance they could be homeless in the next couple of months because of dad's unemployment ending this month, mom having been out of work for months with the migraines and surgery and the oldest daughter losing her job suddenly (although she just found a new one). So this year, I'm not giving out much else because I just don't have it.
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Ann,
Thats the way I prefer to do it. I know all these agencies have their trees and so forth, but you are not permitted to know who you are helping (I suppose its a privacy issue). Well, I want to know who I am helping.
salty -
Quote: hat is why one should give through places like WorldVision.
They distribute 85-90% of funds to the needy families.
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You might want to take a closer look at World Vision's books! They utilize less funds on actual missions than they receive. Very high costs. I gave up on World Vision years ago, and give my money directly to a missionary.
Cheers,
Jim -
HankD -
Earth Wind and Fire Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
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Here is an interesting article.
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Doesn't sound like THIS is 85-90%.
Which would cause me to wonder if the letters sent out from families that were helped are actually as legit as WV would have us to believe
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