POVERTY:
The state of those lacking the necessary (or socially acceptable) amount of money or material possessions. Bishop Justice Kojo Bentil says, “The definition of poverty is in three levels: 1.Poverty is the state of your mind. 2. Poverty is the state of your spirit. 3. Poverty is financial mismanagement.”
Imagine…
Imagine waking up and feeling stiff because you woke up on anything other than the comfort of a mattress, let alone in a house or your own room where it’s warm and dry. Where you wake up in the warm months in your own sweat or in the cold months shaking and shivering still tired from the inability to sleep in below freezing weather on the street or with no heat in your home.
Imagine having no clean running water for you to brush your teeth, wash your body or a flushing toilet… let alone, clean water to drink or cook with. Having to walk miles for the nearest water source or beg anyone to be generous enough to give you water.
Imagine not having more than a few pieces of clothing and maybe if you have been blessed to have ONE nice outfit to go to church or a special occasion. Your clothes to keep you warm, dry, protected from the sun and give you some dignity.
Imagine not only having the ability to eat Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and snack in between but worry about where the ONE meal you may get to eat today is going to come from.
Imagine not having electric, internet, lights, and a way to communicate or travel.
Imagine feeling desperate, scared, hungry, alone, like you are incapable of taking care of yourself and others.
Imagine not receiving any attention, having no power or influence.
Imagine not having the hope and comfort of being loved, rescued, desired, valued and cared for.
LIFE:
Vital, existing, functioning, growing, and reproducing. The Church is made to be Life giving. We are called to Breathe Life into those who do not yet have life. The church is vital. We exist and are functioning to be God’s body. In 1 Corinthians 12:12-27 it says that we are One Body but Many Parts. We have to do life and breathe life together. We are made to grow and reproduce disciples who make disciples. We are called to not only care for the needs of the spiritually poor but also for the physically and mentally Poor.
NOW IMAGINE YOU, IMAGINE THE CHURCH.
Imagine obeying the commandment and mission that God gave to us as the church.
In Matthew 28:19 where He told us, “Therefore GO and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.” He didn’t say stay in the comfort of your home, your job, your selfishness to make sure you are cared for above and beyond your needs. He didn’t say stay within your church walls and bring people to you. He wants to send you out. He said GO. Go into your neighborhood, your community, your cities, your country and when you go, tell EVERYONE the good news and make disciples of all the nations.
In Proverbs 31:8-9 He says, “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.” God is concerned for the poor and marginalized; He cares for the overlooked and wants us to be generous to them. When we are generous to the poor you are generous to God. When you are generous to others you strengthen your faith and trust in God as you become more dependent on God to take care of your needs.
Philippians 4:6 says, “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.”
Imagine if the church looked like that.
“This is what God the Lord says—who gives breath to its people, and life to those who walk on it.” Isaiah 42.5
Breathe
Breathe Partners believes the most effective way to influence people and culture is by developing young leaders and empowering the church.
Breathe Partners is creating a healthier world physically and spiritually by caring for the young, the lost, the elderly and the poor.
Breathe Partners believes in caring for the Unreached, Underdeveloped and Urban. Jesus is a God who loves the world and He is not willing that ‘any’ should perish but that all come to repentance. Jesus spent much of his life caring for ‘the least of these.’ Jesus has localized the Great Commission by bringing the nations to the cities of the world.
People matter. Relationships matter. Presence matters.
You have an opportunity to serve, to love and obey the call and mission God has placed in your life. You can serve in your local church, you can serve in your local communities or be sent out all over the world developing world and urban spaces to be in front line ministry and mission through Breathe Partners. Serving and caring for the young lost, elderly and poor.
You have an opportunity to serve in Haiti and Philadelphia. See one of my last blogs on what it looks like to come on an Experience Trip with Breathe Partners to serve the poor.
