Members helping members

By Glenn Nice

What is our responsibility toward those who are disadvantaged?

Paul told the Galatians, "Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." How do we do this?

Some need help, financially, to get through a difficult time and may not need this kind of help again. Others don't need money, but need a helping hand in other ways. Some think they need money, but actually need help in how to organize their lives.

We must decide if money is part of the need, and then do what is necessary. Our past concentration on the monetary aspect of giving gave the church's member assistance program some negative by-products. Many members felt that as long as they made their donations, they had no further responsibility--it was now the church's problem. In doing so, members turned the need over to others to deal with.

One by-product is that we have sidelined some people into situations where they feel they will always need what they have become accustomed to receiving.

Another by-product is the separation of the family. Instead of encouraging family members to help each other, we have placed the responsibility on others.

People need help in many ways, and it's impossible for the church to do everything through the ministry. It's up to each of us, individually, to make a difference, to lend a helping hand.

Yet the church still needs money to help those in need. We will need about $3 million in 1996 to cover the anticipated needs, yet we expect to fall short by $1.2 million.

How will this money be spent?

1) About 450 member households receive a monthly assistance check from the church. The average is $361 per person per month.

2) About 400 times a month someone needs help for a onetime or occasional need. This may be for food, clothing or rent.

The anticipated $1.2 million deficit can be solved in two ways: Members can help others in ways that reduce the monetary need, or they can donate to the assistance fund.

Whatever the situation, we as Christians must commit ourselves to helping one another. We can often do this on an individual basis, but at other times we must work together as a body to help others. For this reason, the church has a central source from which ministers may request help. It's a little like the apostle Paul calling on the churches in Macedonia and Achaia to send aid to the poor brethren in Jerusalem.

As Paul said in Galatians 6:10: "Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers."

Glen Nice is office manager of Church Administration in Pasadena.

Copyright © Worldwide Church of God,1996