Greetings LTLA Friends,
The standard question that is used when helping the poor is, "What do you need?" As a team this past month, we were encouraged to consider asking the poor to whom we minister the following question, "What do you have?" The first question focuses on the challenges of life while the alternate question focuses on the opportunities that exist.
There are a couple of passages that speak about God's perspective on what we need in life. The first is 2 Peter 1:3 which states, "His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness." The second is Matthew 6:31-33, "So do not worry saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."
As we can see, God knows our needs and has provided everything we need for our life on this earth, both physically and spiritually. That needs to be our focus as we minister to the materially poor, helping them seek God and his ways first so that they can see how he will provide for their needs. Asking, "What do you have?," helps them focus on what God has already provided for them. It then launches us into helping them trust God with using what he has given them to provide for what they need.
This was the principle lesson we learned along with many other principles as we spent 7 days working through the Helping Without Hurting in Africa material. This resource was developed by one of the authors of the book, "When Helping Hurts," along with two poverty alleviation practitioners in Africa, a Ugandan and long-term American missionary. Arthur Nhau, LTLA Director in Zimbabwe, and Shelton Nhundu, LTLA Community Ministry team leader, helped me facilitate the sessions. It covers a broad spectrum of topics because poverty is a complex problem. We anticipate we will review the material on an ongoing basis along with asking the Lord to continue showing us how to advance his kingdom among orphans, widows and the poor to whom we minister.
As I have been sharing in recent updates, our ministry is facing a financial shortfall as we end this year. Worldwide inflation, a growing ministry, and some emergency expenses have contributed to this shortfall. We are preparing to make significant adjustments in our operating budget for next year to work with what we have, applying the key principle we have learned to our own ministry. We ask that you pray for us as we continue to trust the Lord and steward his provision for his work through LIfe to Life Africa.
Thank you for your partnership in prayer and financial support that sustain this ministry!
Mike Sulc
Life to Life Africa
Arthur, LTLA Director in Zimbabwe, (standing by the door) facilitating a Helping Without Hurting in Africa session.
The LTLA Team praying for our ministry in the two photos above.
Shelton, LTLA Community Ministry team leader, (standing) facilitating a Helping Without Hurting in Africa session.
LTLA Team taking a break from the Helping Without Hurting in Africa sessions to sing praises to the Lord.
Mike Sulc helping Critical Care Center orphans build with Legos donated by Team Neutrino, a high school robotics team from Ames, IA.
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