I've learned that you don't have to fly across the country to serve the Lord and His people. You can serve Him wherever you are — even in your own backyard. Last semester I went back to the Atlanta Dream Center with my church, Passion City Church in Atlanta, Georgia. You can serve with the center at 10 a.m. on any Saturday that you choose. Every time I go there, we visit people in their homes and bring them food before asking the kids would like to play with us. It's a lot of fun, even if we are just playing with the kids.
I used to think that there was only a dire need for help in other countries because America is a developed country. It is true that America is more fortunate than most countries, but there are many people here who need help too. Some don't have jobs, some are looking for jobs to feed their children and some don't have enough money to pay for rent or AC. Many still do not know Jesus. There is a need everywhere, and Jesus does call us to go to all the different nations, and I do believe we should all go. I’ve been to Nicaragua before, and I had the time of my life. Sometimes all a child wants is to be fed and held.
“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” — Mathew 28:19
I want to encourage you to sponsor a child if you can’t physically go to another country. There are a few organizations that I have heard about that help children in third world countries. Here's the list:
Local:
1. Atlanta Children’s Shelter
I’ve volunteered here only once so far, but I am planning on going back there in the heart of Atlanta. When I volunteered there, I got to hold lots of babies! You have to go through a background check before you can volunteer to play with the children, but when that is done, it is the most fulfilling experience to play with them. They are so sweet that I wish I could play with them every single day!
2. The Atlanta Dream Center
I mentioned this organization earlier. It's downtown Atlanta, and you can sign up to serve with them on almost any Saturday of the month. They usually begin at 10 a.m. and until noon or 1 p.m. There are a few different neighborhoods in Atlanta that they go to serve.
International:
1. Food For the Poor
This organization gives clean food and water to children in Guatemala and Haiti. I heard about this organization on the Fish Radio Station. You can donate $21 a month to help them bring clean food and water to these countries.
2. CURE INTERNATIONAL
You can sponsor a child for $38 a month. You can also receive email updates about the children you are sponsoring. This organization operates on children with medical emergencies. I sponsor a little girl who has had clubfoot, and I get email updates about what she is doing in the hospital. I love seeing her cute smiling face!
3. Hands and Feet Project
The hands and feet project is another organization in which you can help a child by donating. You can make one-time donations or sign up to give monthly. Once you sign up, they will send you a Facebook invite into a “Family Room.” They will send you updates of that child that you are helping!
4. Compassion International
This is another organization that helps children in need. I learned about it at the Passion 2017 Conference. You can make monthly donations to help children in need. There is also a monthly fee.
If you don’t have a lot of cash, there are other ways you can serve, such as bringing awareness to ending slavery and ending sex trafficking.
Bring awareness to human trafficking.
1. The A21 Campaign
This organization is lead by Christine Caine. This campaign helps refugees and victims of sex trafficking. If you go to their website you can find ways to help serve. There are 21 ways, to be exact!
2. International Justice Mission
This another great place to start. The founder Gary Haugen is the CEO of IJM. His team goes out into different countries and saves victims who are being trafficked.
3. END IT MOVEMENT
There are 27 million slaves around the world. The famous red X is a sign to help bring an awareness of those being sex trafficked. It is a way to raise our voices for those who can’t. Atlanta is one of the biggest industries in human sex trafficking. This past Thursday, we raised our voices for the voiceless. Ashton Cutcher, Sadie Lambert and Carrie Underwood all posted their pictures of them with the famous red X symbol.
Our generation can help end this because we are in it to end it!
I heard my Pastor Louie Giglio say in church one Sunday, "It's as simple as just giving someone a drink of water."
It's as simple as praying over someone. It's as simple as playing with a kid and loving on them. It's simple and not hard. It's not complicated. It brings you joy when you serve others. It's humbling and definitely where you can feel the presence of the Holy Spirit. When you get out in the hot heat and think about someone else for a change, talk with people, get to know their story, pray over them and show them the love of Jesus. That's where the Lord is. He is with the hurt and broken. He is here. And He is roaring loud. Our God fills the atmosphere. He is here.
“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’” — Mathew 25: 40
So now… let's go!
