If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. 1 John 3:17-18
“Every person must be helped out of his need. For whoever starves and suffers want of the most necessary things of daily life endures great pain…Whoever knows of the need of such a person and does not help them out commits a great sin.”
Shepherd of Hermas (c. 140-155) in Similitudes 10:4-2-4. This early church pastor of Hermas describes the posture Christians must have toward those who are suffering. For us, we think of the destitute in the garbage dump of Guatemala City as well as the struggling or sick person in modern America.
Take some time to pray and ask God to help you identify a person or group of people that you will help “out of their need” from what you have. Don’t do this alone. Do it with a spouse or friend, or as a family or group of families. Why? We must not love with words but with actions.
If you want to partner with us to bless a poor family in the garbage dump of Guatemala City, a “prayer walk” bag of supplies that includes rice and other necessities costs $22 or Sammy and Sophie will build bunk beds from a kit with a $200 price tag.
To make your gift, simply visit their website and click on the donate page, and in the special instructions section, mark “Hoag Family Trip” and they will be sure your tax-deductible gift covers the supplies related to our visit. Thank you.