Making a difference-- Childreach

[Guest LadyC]

Lady C, I so agree with you. There are so many children that are not going to get any type of gift this year and that is in our own town, state, country. I am not against helping others in another country but help those around us first. How can we turn a deaf ear to a child in our neighborhood who might be hungry? We are not to forget our own.

thanks dove. it's my opinion that there are so many around us that need our help, that if we all pitched in to help them, we wouldn't have anything left to send to other parts of the world. sure, that's a sad thing, but ya know what? i think we need to realize that our priorities belong right here. most of us aren't rich... we (IMO) have no business paying $25/mo to a third world outreach because it means that we totally ignore those nearby.

now, if some multi-millionaire wants to help both, then more power to them. but i think God blesses us most when we take care of our neighbor.

[Catsmeow]

I sponsor two children in Kenya through Compassion International.

As a former foreign missionary, I wish to assure you that poverty in the United States pales in comparison to third world countries.

I have never in all my years seen children discarded in downtown streets and left naked and dying in the gutters in America.

Our "poverty" in this country is nothing by comparison to many third world countries.

What I do see is a wonderful safety net that encompasses generous Americans who do anything from supply food pantries, Toys for Tots, Make a Wish Foundation, and pay taxes to sustain Children and Family Service organizations and welfare for those who are unable to care for themselves.

Such "safety nets" DO NOT EXIST in third world countries...and the smallest and most helpless children are left to fend for themselves.

So, while I help ANY fellow American I see in need, (from my next door neighbor to some of you on Worthy Boards), I would NEVER discount the enormous need of suffering children abroad.

In this matter, I'm very opinionated...).

[Catsmeow]

Joel,

I have a special love for the people of Africa. I always have. I know that on a Christian message board, the enormous concern of most Christians are that the children being helped are receiving Christian instruction.

I myself make that a primary concern. While I long to serve my fellow human being, particularly the poor and needy (regardless of the country of origin)...my ultimate goal is their "eternal destiny".

If a child's life if prolonged by humanitarian interventions, but the child never receives "the bread of life" (eternal hope through Jesus Christ)...then we've only addressed half the problem.

Compassion International not only feeds and educates childrens, but also teaches them the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ...which is the most important gift you can give to ANY child.

Amen?

[Guest dove2]

I sponsor two children in Kenya through Compassion International.

Cats, Gary and I have sponsored Children in different countries. We have given to people in different countries. That is not the real issue here.

You correctly give through a Christian foundation and not on a humanitarian basis. I am not putting down feeding kids or adults in other countries by any means. We have always done so and will continue to do so any time we can. I do make sure my next door neighbor is not in need as well.

I believe what we were actually discussing was not giving to a non-Christian organization.

As a former foreign missionary, I wish to assure you that poverty in the United States pales in comparison to third world countries.

I do agree that poverty in the United States does not come close to equaling poverty in third world countries. I do say that the humanitarian effort is not the kind of organization a Christian should give to. If that is the only way to get food to third world countries then I would ask the Lord to show me a way to get it to them in His name and with His blessings.

I have never in all my years seen children discarded in downtown streets and left naked and dying in the gutters in America.

I have seen children in the streets of Dallas, very young girls and boys, having to sell their bodies because their parents can not take care of them or because their parents threw them out of the house. They are discarded and they live on the streets of Dallas and they sleep on the streets of Dallas. The discarded children in America are not dying in the gutters because there are perverts that will pay for their services.

So, while I help ANY fellow American I see in need, (from my next door neighbor to some of you on Worthy Boards), I would NEVER discount the enormous need of suffering children abroad.

I don

[artsylady]

We've got a few kids through Compassion and Christian Children's Fund.

I also agree with Cats and Dove that poverty is nothing compared to other countries. For at least 5 years when in my 20's, I lived with my daughter well below the 'poverty line'. We were never ever hungry or lacking for food, Christmas presents, clothes - anything.

We lived in a neighbourhood where there were many single mothers on welfare. And many had different kids by different fathers - the mentality - the more kids you have, the more money you get.

During this time my eyes were also opened to much. I went from being a liberal to a conservative pretty quickly.

There are so many organizations out there for people and believe me, these 'needy' people know about the programs. Where programs like the food bank and a local 'coats for kids' program can be abused, they will be abused.

I'm sure the working poor are not like this, ( I know I wasn't) but the ones who you'd think need the money or support, would grab it in a second and never think twice about your kindness. They'd think that somehow they were owed the money.

[artsylady]

I have seen children in the streets of Dallas, very young girls and boys, having to sell their bodies because their parents can not take care of them or because their parents threw them out of the house. They are discarded and they live on the streets of Dallas and they sleep on the streets of Dallas. The discarded children in America are not dying in the gutters because there are perverts that will pay for their services.

Aren't there social programs to help though? As much as this sounds crass, isn't there some amount of choice involved? ARe they addicted to drugs, afraid to approach authorities, not wanting to seek a homeless shelter?

At least in America, if a person wants help, they can get it right?

In these other countries, the government is too poor or just doesn't care enough to help. No such thing as drug rehab, homeless shelters, children's services etc.

[Guest dove2]

There are social programs for children such as this but they didn't want to be put into a home and was afraid people would be mean to them. Their parents were drug addicts or some other sad story. They didn't want foster parents. I am talking about children that are 8-10 years old. The cops at that time knew they were on the streets and didn't pick them up. They do have a choice. The streets or the system. They chose the streets because they were frightened of the system and no amount of talking to them helped. We had a street ministry for a while in the worst downtown streets in Dallas and it did hurt to see these little ones so wise in the ways of the world for their years but so misguided about the system. Some had been in foster homes and were treated unkindly and prefered the streets. I thought this was very sad. We even offered them homes and it frightened them and they would run and hide. These were children that had been beaten and had rather take their chances on the streets than be hurt anymore.

They sure could have got help if they wanted it. They chose against it. The teenagers warned them against it and they would listen to them rather than an adult. They did not trust adults at all.

That is true and sad about the other countries. These children would have starved rather than take their chances with the system. It really is sad they were so frightened. Other countries don't have this system set up. If they did then the people would not be hungry.

I agree with everything you said artsylady.

[Faith1]

Dove - that just breaks my heart it's so very sad

[Guest LadyC]

I have seen children in the streets of Dallas, very young girls and boys, having to sell their bodies because their parents can not take care of them or because their parents threw them out of the house. They are discarded and they live on the streets of Dallas and they sleep on the streets of Dallas. The discarded children in America are not dying in the gutters because there are perverts that will pay for their services.

Aren't there social programs to help though? As much as this sounds crass, isn't there some amount of choice involved? ARe they addicted to drugs, afraid to approach authorities, not wanting to seek a homeless shelter?

At least in America, if a person wants help, they can get it right?

In these other countries, the government is too poor or just doesn't care enough to help. No such thing as drug rehab, homeless shelters, children's services etc.

no offense, just a difference of opinion. but when i read this post, it comes across as sounding like "why should we be responsible for helping out the downtrodden in america? after all, they can get into the system and take taxpayers money, go to shelters, go to food banks, etc., and so why should we be bothered to help?"

i guess i also have very strong opinions on this subject. i feel like we SHOULD be responsible to help out the locals so that they can AVOID the shelters and food banks and welfare system. some people do abuse it. others do not.

i've never had to live on the street, only by the grace of God. but i recall a time when i couldn't make ends meet. we didn't qualify for food stamps because my income was too high... really? too high? i was a single mom raising two children on a job that paid $7.50/hour. we lived in a roach-infested apartment in a bad, bad neighborhood. i can't tell you how humiliating it was to stand in line at food banks and be given a bag full of groceries. and have any of you ever gotten food from the salvation army food banks? have you???? do you have any clue how, not to mention it being incredibly degrading to be there, how utterly disappointing it is to find that yet again you're forced to eat and feed your kids stuff that most people wouldn't give their dogs??? do you know what it's like to stand in that line and ask some hardened volunteer who has lost all compassion for the needy if you could possibly get any milk? and IF they had any milk, it was usually already the expiration date. or toilet paper? oh man, if you ever donate to the food banks, GIVE TP! that's a luxery item.

and maybe the parents are drug addicts. does that mean that the children shouldn't be helped? could you not be willing to give to the child things like shoes, or school supplies? oh yes, there are programs available to help with school supplies. yet again, you stand in line humiliated that you're having to beg, hoping to make it to the front of the line before the supplies were gone?

do you know what it's like to wish that you could afford to buy clothes for your kids at someplace cheap like walmart, but even that's out of reach, so you have to go to the charities that let you rummage through stained, torn clothing to find things suitable to wear? have you ever tried going out on job interviews wearing clothing that you got from the charity stores? better yet, have you ever been an employer interviewing someone who was wearing worn out clothing? betcha didn't hire them, did ya?

don't get me wrong... not all people care about trying to get above water. i live in vegas and have become extremely jaded towards the homeless population. most of them break laws, scam people, and abuse any system they can. i rarely offer help to those. a guy was recently begging for handouts on a corner, limping and barefoot. i had a spare pair of men's sandals in my car, and offered them to him. he looked at me and said "oh no, i don't need shoes." of course not, he wanted money. i generally don't bother helping the ones on street corners anymore.

but there are so many others who ARE trying... and just because they happen to have a roof over their head doesn't mean they don't need help. they need financial help, but even more than that, they need to be treated with dignity so they don't lose heart and give up.

so forgive me if i'm coming across as beligerent and opinionated... but it just chaps my rear end to hear people make excuses about why it's so much more worthwhile to help someone in another country because they don't have "programs" to help them.

fortunately, i'm in a much better position now than i was back then. i can afford to stay at home while my husband works. i can afford to spend a small fortune on art supplies for a daughter who is in one of the most prestigious magnet schools in the country. it doesn't leave me much left over to help the poor, but i help where i can, and when my daughter graduates, you can bet i'll be finding a family that i can offer assistance to in my own community. a family who will appreciate it. a family who will spend another night in a warm bed with decent food in their bellies because i cared enough to help them stay off the streets.

[Guest LadyC]

LOL river, the only thing we seem to NOT agree on is politics!

listen, i could tell you stories all day about how i became jaded towards homeless people. When I first came to vegas, i was a sucker! i may tell you in a private message some of the ways i got scammed, but i won't do it in this thread..... if i did, it would just encourage people to thumb their noses more at the locals who really do need help. what i will say is one has to use discernment... not all the needy fall into the stereotype. in fact, the ones who DO fall into the sterotype usually just need a swift kick in the butt.