I’m often asked what a typical day of ministry in Appalachia is like. There really isn’t anything typical about our days. But one thing that often engages us is responding to the frequent telephone calls from local folks, asking us to satisfy a perceived need in their lives. Of course, this need is nearly always financial in nature. The cries for intervention are related to a number of things. This time of year a great many people fall behind on their sky-rocketing utility bills. Other times the issue is food or clothing. Many times auto insurance costs become the dilemma in their lives. We do our best to discern the validity of the need that is presented to us, and then respond in an appropriate manner. Please know this; we never simply give money to anyone. While that would certainly cut out hours of effort and miles of driving, our real goal is to help people see the Hand of God in responding to their plight. Simply handing them the cash they request is neither wise nor effective. We always make it a relationship opportunity.
Responding to these cries for help tends to be cyclic in nature. The call comes, we pray over the need, sit with the people and share God’s love. If the need is true we respond as best we can, committing this entire relational process to the Lord. Those who have benefited will often, but not always, express some immediate gratitude, and they promise to join us in one of our church services. But unless we pursue the relationship, these folks usually drift out of our lives for a season- until another need presents itself.
I’ve poured a great amount of prayer into trying to gain understanding of the “cycle of poverty” that we experience in this area. More than one-third of the population of McCreary County attempts to live solely off of a “monthly check” from the government. An “entitlement mentality” sets in and folks actually begin to believe that organizations such as ours are “required” to respond to their need. Coming to the aid of those in trouble is one of the most effective ways of presenting the Gospel of Love, but how do I keep from sustaining this dependency on benevolence?
Last month I received a letter from my youngest daughter, Beth. She had recently been touched by the words to a popular song, and she wanted to share a revelation with me. Beth’s message validated a lifetime of effort as a parent; “I wanted you to know, that thru every day of my life I have completely felt loved!” Those are the words that I hope every father and mother will someday hear. Her note embodied a concept that I believe can change the world; Thankfulness!
As I wiped the tears of joy from my eyes, I pondered the Love of God that underlies my relationship with my daughter. I considered how desperately I desire this same feeling of peace to permeate the lives of the people that I minister to. It was then that I began to see the implications of this revelation for the people of our community. I responded to Beth’s letter, sharing with her the connection that I feel her revelation has with the folks of McCreary County:
“Beth, what you experienced was not the immediate presence of love, although as you acknowledged it was always there. What moved you was the "thankfulness" for that love, and this type of proper thanksgiving only comes in retrospect; i.e. you look back and see the blessing for its' reality, and realize that it was present throughout your life. Often times embracing this level of thankfulness only comes when we are presented the opportunity to pass the blessing on to someone; in your situation when you became a parent yourself. The feeling of immense love wells up within you as you look at your children, and then you realize that this is how your parents have felt about you all of your life. What an awesome thing to behold!”
“Why do I consider this to be the answer to our dilemma here? People in this area seem to often have no true feelings of gratitude. They look for whatever help they can get, but they never focus, even in retrospect, on a deeper level of gratitude for the love that was extended to them. They usually feel they are entitled to a benefit, either because they are "poor" or because the agency has a "responsibility" as Christians, or do-gooders, to extend the help. They are grateful for temporarily being relieved of their suffering, but they fail to properly see the love that motivated the actions. As a result, they may experience momentary peace in their lives, only to have it immediately followed by a hunger to have additional "needs" met once again.”
I can’t help but wonder! If the people we serve could come to the point of truly feeling thankful for the blessings they receive, might they begin to find their dilemmas dissipating? If they could somehow see the true source of their relief, in the Love of God the Father and through His Son and Spirit, wouldn’t they surly realize healing from their suffering? Providing funds and assistance to those in difficult circumstances doesn’t seem to be enough. How can we help them see the need to “give thanks”?
I would like to ask anyone reading this message to pause for a moment and pray for the people of McCreary County who walk in continual despair. Intercede for them, that they would open their spiritual eyes to the Love of God that manifests Itself in so many ways; in the bills that are paid, in the homes built and repaired by visiting mission teams, and most of all, in the Love that motivates those who respond. I’m convinced that a genuine attitude of thanksgiving would begin to unravel generations worth of hopelessness.
Rita and I continue to give thanks to our Lord for the part each of you plays in our lives. God has blessed us greatly through your love, and we don’t take that for granted. As my daughter shared with me, “we feel completely loved”. Thanks for sharing your love with us as we minister here in the “hills and hollers”.
Jim and Rita
