God brought me to tears as I watched a video a couple weeks ago on Sudan and how children there badly need food. My wife and I have decided we are going to start giving some of our tithe towards feeding severely malnourished children in impoverished countries. It took me years before I really got judged on how I was selfish with my money and being responsible for what I earn. We could talk and talk on personal responsibility with money, but really the important thing as brothers and sisters in Christ is that we help feed these poor children and families. $10, $20, $30, or more is plenty to keep these children alive for another day. I sincerely ask you to consider in your heart giving a portion of what you earn towards this cause. There are people across the world starving to death that need our help as Americans (and therefore, for the most part, inherently better off than the rest of the world). Right now, there are an estimated 4.3 million people in Sudan who need help because of the drought that is occuring there. I really like Rod Parsley's ministry for giving to Sudan and other places that are in need of assistance for food (they are monetarily ethical from what I have read in their church statement). You can give to help feed Sudanese people in need of food here (http://orders.rodparsley.com/Order_First.aspx?ostr=y949kUtrP8c%3d). Also you can help support the fight against sex trafficking here as well (https://orders.rodparsley.com/Order_FirstB.aspx?ostr=zsYxAcyP6Q0%3D) [warning: if you are sensitive to content concerning the fight against sex trafficking, I believe on this site they have an audio testimonial from a woman who used to be in the trade come on automatically when the site comes up]. And you can also get more information on the fight against sex trafficking here (http://www.allthingsnewcampaign.org/) [again, the content can be intense at this site as well as stories of ex-sex slaves are told on here] and if you would like to buy jewelry from women that used to be in the sex slave trade in Thailand, you can at this amazing site (http://www.nightlightinternational.com/) We bought some jewelry for our moms for Christmas from this site, it was very pretty and very special. Definitely check it out as the profits support women leaving the prostitution lifestyle to support them and get them back on their feet.
Another one of the charities that provide for people in bad need is Action by Churches Together (http://www.act-intl.org). There are conflict and displacement in the Congo, earthquakes in China, flooding and cholera outbreak in Zambia (these are wonderful people; we had the Zambian vocal group come to our church to sing acapella worship, Zambian style, which was so beautiful!), Haiti is in need from the earthquake, floods and landslides in El Salvador, and much more. Many people need our financial help and if you make a note to ACT, they will donate 100% of your money straight to the cause (not to overhead). There are many more organizations out there too if you have a preference to support someone else. The important thing is that we do help with something. Prayer is always the strongest thing, much stronger than money, but if you feel in your heart you should give, please do so. (And if you have a family, adoption is always an option too! Either from America, or elsewhere! My wife and I want to adopt a boy from Africa and a girl from Latin America. After I went to Honduras and saw the little girls there in the ghetto and heard they will be pregnant by the time they are 14 and now I have a beautiful daughter, I badly want to adopt and save a girl from that)
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit tonight, tomorrow, and this week! (Philemon 1:25)
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