Take a journey with us to serve the poor. This presentation looks at some of the hesitations and current 'myths' about the poor while putting it in a biblical perspective. The presentation aims to challenge assumptions and ultimately challenge us to walk out and walk next to someone in need.

1. Walking with the poor to transform lives – in Christ

2. Some sentiments:
 The “rawness’ of life without
the frills
 You can sense the need for
survival – there is no
comfort
 You can sense desperation –
people are praying for
answers
 It exposes who you are:
privileged
 A smile is priceless – joy
overcomes hardship
A mother & child in a tent camp post Haiti earthquake

3.  Not just a lack of “stuff”
 Not a syndrome of “laziness”
 The poor are the after-effects of
disfranchisement – lack of capital, lack
of resources, lack of economies of scale
to compete for ‘living wage,’ lack of a
government support
 Poverty result of sin – broken world
 Poverty is multidimensional – food,
shelter, education

4.  Worship as concert
 Focus on church growth
 Being comfortable is OK
 Not challenged for
outward call of service
 No urgency to go to the
ends of the earth
Culture is fundamentally altering Christ’s call – focus is on individual success through
faith

5.  Luke 4: 18-19: He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery
of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's
favor.
Matthew 25:40: And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you,
inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’

6. Some tough questions:
 Are we ready to sell all we have to follow Jesus?
 Are we ready to renounce family for the cost of Christ?
 Are we ready to die for Christ?
“Follow
me”
Radical Abandonment of Comfort

7.  Felt that overwhelming brokenness for the
poor
 Poverty at first was just a concept –
something from TV of a starving African
child
 Asked the Lord “send me”
 Began to intersect with those who had little
– and hear their stories
 The Lord moved me to be a light – just a
small act of compassion those with nothing
saw God move
 Now moving to build that process of stepping
out in faith to a global level.
Top: Mission trip to Philippines
Bottom: Homeless food
outreach in Norfolk

8.  Empowerment: micro-loans = hand
up
 Discipleship – coming alongside a
church, individual & to deliberately
share God’s truth.
 Compassion – providing direct and
emergent aid (2 fish, 5 loaves)

9. Pray for the Lord to send you
Pray for those in refugee situations and
conflict
Pray for persecuted Christians
Take yourself outside of your comfort zone
Serve food at a homeless shelter or go on a
mission trip
Join us on a global journey to serve the poor

10. We look forward to follow-up!
E-mail: adam@jtjourney.org