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With millions of people facing so many problems in our country, sometimes we don't see why global giving matters to us. Why should churches give support outside of their communities, and why should we care when we have so many worries closer to us? Of course, we need to start at home. We should care for our families, get involved in our communities, and contribute to our country. And we should also help people around the world.
The "Great Commission" is not a term in the Bible, but we use it to describe the message of Matthew 28:19, in which Jesus says, "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." Those words make our calling pretty clear: We should shine our light on all nations. That doesn't mean that every one of us should visit every place on Earth or donate to every charity; we have unique gifts and interests for a reason. We should all use discernment and compassion to do what we can.We can also see a similar command in Acts 1:8, "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”Jesus made the above statements right before He ascended to Heaven, so we can assume He wanted that message to stick in the minds and hearts of His followers. That message is our purpose in this life. Some of us pursue our purpose by traveling the world full-time to share the Gospel, and some of us settle down, share the Gospel with our neighbors, and build a foundation to give from. In any case, we all have the same purpose: To share the Gospel by loving all people.
No matter where we are, followers of Jesus are the Church. Individual churches have different ways they support local and worldwide causes, but it's the individual people that make giving possible. So it's important that we, as individuals, understand why we are contributing through what we're giving. The Gospel has reached thousands of people all around the world, every year, because of people like you. Check out where the teachings of Jesus have reached. "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." - James 1:27
Now that we've gone over why we should care about global giving, let's look at how. When your church partners with an organization, how can you know your money makes a difference? First of all, it's immensely valuable to be involved in a church you can trust. If you want to know more about what your church is doing behind the scenes or who they're supporting, don't be afraid to reach out and ask questions. Curiosity is key to growth! If you're new to the whole "church thing," you can start by researching organizations that are transparent about their mission and their beliefs. You might think that the amount you can give won't matter in the big picture, but it's every single penny that adds up to a mountain of change. For example, check out how individual givers at Sun Valley supported Orchard: Africa, an organization that brings hope to the hopeless through the Word of Jesus. We’ve also been able to help Convoy of Hope provide emergency relief in Ukraine. Those dollars impact real people in real crisis, and give hope in ways we take for granted.
Here at Sun Valley, we invest in helping people meet, know, and follow Jesus. If you want to be a part of how we reach the world, you can give monetarily or join one of our mission trips. If you want to learn more about getting involved with local and global work being done, here are a few organizations we partner with: Midwest Food Bank Harvest India Orchard: Africa God Behind Bars
Written Content Coordinator at Sun Valley Community Church. An avid writer since the age of 5, who loves to explore new ideas and places. Inspired by Jesus, books, and travel.