poverty in the US (just a thought)

[one love]

I have a question to those who seem to have a heart felt burden for the work here in America... What are you personally and your local church doing to feed the hungry here?
To neglect 3rd world counties would be shameful, PG is right, if we do not help them no one will. Those hungry here in America have a goverment that offers some help and plenty of churches that could step up to the plate if the burden is there. There are men, women and children starving in places like W. Va and Ky hills, even in the city streets from LA to NYC. Wanna make a difference? Get your local church involved in food banks, food drives, community outreaches, ect. What are you doing to make America a better place to live?

Brother I think you made a mistake here NOBODY said neglect the poor in 3rd world countries only that MOST churches have neglected those here at home. Both should be done.

Really? You may be right Brother, but this statement seemed to point that way.

Wouldn't the Western Church be better served to help those in our front yard first? I mean it almost looks hypocritical when we send our money elsewhere.

I see what you are saying, I guess my point is , I think that we need to help those in America JUST as we are helping those in the third world. I am not trying to take away from either, sorry if it appeared that way. I may not have read everyone's post thoroughly. I have felt for a while that the churches neglect our nation.

[one love]

A few snippets taken from www.realtruth.org

Of America's "poor":

43% own their homes.

The “average home owned by persons classified as poor by the Census Bureau is a three-bedroom house with one-and-a-half baths, a garage, and a porch or patio.”

They have significantly more “living space” than does the average citizen living in affluent international cities such as London, Paris, Vienna and Athens. Only 6% of those living below America’s poverty line reported their living conditions as being “overcrowded.”

Next, consider that most today take pleasure in amenities that were considered luxuries just a generation or two ago. For instance, of the 37 million labeled “poor” in the U.S., 80% enjoy the comforts of air-conditioning, as opposed to only 36% of the entire population in 1970.

America’s “poor” are also swimming in technology-related goods and services:

97% own color televisions (over half have two or more)

63% have either cable or satellite access

Over 99% have refrigerators

73% own microwave ovens

One in three households have automatic dishwashers

One-third have cell phones, landline phones and telephone answering machines—less than a paltry 10% “survive” without telephone service at all.

Almost three-quarters own a car and—more surprisingly—over 30% own two cars or more!

For their take on global poverty: http://www.realtruth.org/articles/08032 ... onomy.html

(not an endorsement of this organization, btw.)

YES we are the richest poorest nation BUT not those that are in horrendous poverty, they DO NOT own homes, live in shacks and many do not have running water.

Now there is NO comparison as to the scale nor details of poverty here to that of many other nations. Nobody is arguing different. Why are many taking away from the work that should be here as well? I am simply saying we should do both.

[Pastor Gary]

Brother I think you made a mistake here NOBODY said neglect the poor in 3rd world countries only that MOST churches have neglected those here at home. Both should be done.

Let me add this: not ONLY are we at Reunion sponsoring third world children, but we have ALSO operated a distribution center for the Hawaii Food Bank for at least the past 20 years, and our Island Heart ministry has distributed thousands of dollars in direct aid to struggling families in our community.

I encourage all churches to do everything possible to bless their community AND help the poor of the world.

[rough_rider]

Let me add this: not ONLY are we at Reunion sponsoring third world children, but we have ALSO operated a distribution center for the Hawaii Food Bank for at least the past 20 years, and our Island Heart ministry has distributed thousands of dollars in direct aid to struggling families in our community.

I encourage all churches to do everything possible to bless their community AND help the poor of the world.

And that's how a church should be, keep up the great work PG.

[Full Quiver]

Excuse me but the US govt. spends billions to feed the poor across this globe and neglects the starving in America. The mission in Nashville does not accept one red cent from the govt. They rely on the giving of good hearted people.

How much do you spend on Iphone media, internet at home, gadgets, etc.? How much are you sending over seas? I think calling me foolish is over the top.

[Pastor Gary]

Excuse me but the US govt. spends billions to feed the poor across this globe and neglects the starving in America. The mission in Nashville does not accept one red cent from the govt. They rely on the giving of good hearted people.

As it should be.

How much do you spend on Iphone media, internet at home, gadgets, etc.? How much are you sending over seas?

You mean the tools of my business trade? I spend enough to have adequate tools to do my job effectively, as you probably do.

I think calling me foolish is over the top.

I didn't call you foolish, Danny. My exact quote was "I hate to hear you make such statements that make others think you foolish."

That was a friend suggesting to another friend that others might see you in a bad light.

[Full Quiver]

I was tagging along with a couple of guys from the office today and one mentioned the recent 20/20 expose on Appalachia. They both began to discuss it. One mentioned that the office manager had went on a mission trip to Mexico a few years back. He asked her why didn't her church consider going to Appalachia instead of Mexico? It all sounded to familiar to me.

[TW]

Some people think that the mission fields begin when you leave the U.S.A.. They really begin when you walk out the church door.


TW

[Tim Elston]

Some people think that the mission fields begin when you leave the U.S.A.. They really begin when you walk out the church door.

A little anecdote: I was in the vestibule of the Keith Street church for an Evangelism Explosion meeting. A couple of hillbillies walked in the door and started talking to me. I couldn't understand a single word they were saying. I was studying Greek and getting As, but I couldn't understand a word that was coming out of these guys' mouths.

I finally went to get the pastor, Roy Cantrell. I gathered from what Bro. Cantrell was saying was that the guys had run out of gas and were needing help. After they left, I asked Bro. Cantrell how he was able to understand them. He said that he either grew up or had lived in the Appalachian hills of West Virginia, so he understood the dialect. Wow, dialect? It sounded like a different language to me.

Moral of the story: In some American mission fields you even need English language training.

[Full Quiver]

Speaking of Roy Cantrell, he needs prayer. He is in the hospital with some sort of mass in his upper intestines. He was bleeding quite a bit and then it stopped so they sent him home. Now he is back and they finally found the mass (not that anyone wanted a mass to be found). Before they couldn't find the cause for the bleeding.

[Susie Hamilton]

Some people think that the mission fields begin when you leave the U.S.A.. They really begin when you walk out the church door.

A little anecdote: I was in the vestibule of the Keith Street church for an Evangelism Explosion meeting. A couple of hillbillies walked in the door and started talking to me. I couldn't understand a single word they were saying. I was studying Greek and getting As, but I couldn't understand a word that was coming out of these guys' mouths.

I finally went to get the pastor, Roy Cantrell. I gathered from what Bro. Cantrell was saying was that the guys had run out of gas and were needing help. After they left, I asked Bro. Cantrell how he was able to understand them. He said that he either grew up or had lived in the Appalachian hills of West Virginia, so he understood the dialect. Wow, dialect? It sounded like a different language to me.

Moral of the story: In some American mission fields you even need English language training.

Ah member bratha Roy, new hem whan he wuz yungeer.