Sanctuary

In the national Kids Count survey conducted by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, 21% of Raleigh children live below the federal poverty level.  The federal poverty level for a family of four is $23,624.  My prayer is that we don’t stay comfortable with the fact that one in five local kids is living in poverty. What can we do to change that? Take a look at the survey results.

Here’s a brief Holy Week meditation as we step back to reflect on the crucifixion and resurrection of

Jesus. These are lyrics from a song called, Trust, by the Smalltown Poets:

Take this bread, drink this cup

Know this price has pardoned you

From all that’s hardened you

But it’s going to take some trust

The Sunday before last, I had the pleasure of worshipping with our partners at First Presbyterian Church (FPC) in Raleigh.  They, along with White Memorial Presbyterian Church,  are gearing up to build their 16^thHabitat for Humanity house here in Wake County, and I had the opportunity to speak about Habitat’s work in both morning services and in the Sunday School session that they called, “FPC @ Work”.  Partnering with Habitat Wake is one of the ways that FPC has chosen to demonstrate God’s love locally.

Howard Thurman (1900-1981), theologian and civil rights leader states it so well:

Here’s to a fruitful 2014 in providing opportunities for ever more families in Wake County to achieve their dream of homeownership and provide a decent and stable place for their families to flourish.  Please join us—early and often!

Back in the day, Habitat for Humanity staged numerous long walks to bring attention to this new ministry. There was a 700 mile walk from Habitat’s headquarters in Americus, Georgia to Indianapolis to celebrate Habitat’s 7th Anniversary. There was a walk from Portland, Maine to Atlanta celebrating the 12th Anniversary in 1988. I joined this particular walk for a day in 1988 in Richmond, Virginia as we were launching our new Habitat affiliate in Lynchburg.

We are in the Christian season of Lent.  The 40 days prior to Easter.  We think of Lent as a season where we give up something important to us in order to place our focus more intently on God.  In our Christian tradition, Jesus gave up his life to pardon all of our sins.  I have to ask myself what can I sacrifice in my life that others might be able to experience God’s love in their life?

I was in a workshop on Saturday at Providence Baptist Church, led by Dr. Brian Fikkert, one of the co-authors of When Helping Hurts:  How to Alleviate Poverty Without Hurting the Poor.  I am excited by the conversation that this book is framing among local churches seeking to be engaged locally and globally in alleviating poverty as a calling from God.

I just wish all of our donors and volunteers could be around to hear the incredible words of heartfelt gratitude that we hear from those we serve. At Sunday evening’s Holiday Home Tour, we heard from Capt. Dwayne Robinson (U.S. Army) who moved into a Habitat Wake house with his mother  20 years ago when he was 11.  Dwayne was so eloquent in speaking about how much having their own home has meant to his family and how he is now a proud homeowner along with his wife and young family.