Poverty - Move Your Feet

At the end of a forwarded email, there was this line:

Do not ask the Lord to Guide your Footsteps if you are not willing to MOVE your Feet

One of the things on which we are called to move our feet is helping those in need, particularly those who are living in poverty. To me, poverty means living without the means to supply basic needs; people who live without shelter or safe access to water and a regular availability of food; people who for personal or societal reasons are unable to provide for themselves &/or their children. In the Birmingham area (Ala.), homelessness is a bigger issue than people in the surrounding suburbs might ever realize. In 2000, in Jefferson County, in which are located Birmingham and most of the metropolitan area, 14.8% of the population was living below poverty level.

Thankfully there are people who care. For example, there is Cooper Green Mercy Hospital, a hospital in the center of the city, where they offer "high quality health care without regard to ability to pay" (from Cooper Green's mission statement). Within the last year, my church, Southminster Presbyterian (PCUSA), has partnered with the Church of the Reconciler (UMC), Greater Birmingham Ministries, and Cooper Green Mercy Hospital on a program we call "Meals for Meds." At Cooper Green, homeless and indigent patients must purchase a $5 health care card (one time only) to receive care and pay a $5 copay for medication at the hospital pharmacy. "Meals for Meds" is a program to help those who cannot even afford those small copays. Periodically the church will host special lunches, suppers, and even a Valentine's concert and dessert to raise funds to contribute to the Cooper Green Pharmacy, specifically to pay for health care cards and prescription copays for the homeless. The hope is that this program (or others like it) will spread to other area churches.

Through acts large and small, our faith community is moving its feet. Locally and half-way across the world, we are moving in mission and ministry to help the impoverished. High-school youth spend a Saturday working for Habitat. Women crochet necklaces to raise money for the education of children in the Congo. Congregations build partnerships and supply clean, sustainable water through Living Waters for the World. A church plows acres of its property to grow produce for local food pantries and shelters. Youth and adults advocate for the relief of poverty worldwide. Small steps and large, we are asking God for guidance - and moving our feet.