Is there help anywhere?

More layoffs in Amador County...Ace Hardware closed their store in Pine Grove this week, and adds to the burgeoning list of failed businesses and unemployed.

Where do we look for help? Banks are not making loans (unless you have perfect credit); houses, though available in large number, are not easily financed (unless you have perfect credit). And where do you look for work? Construction has ground to a halt and I heard recently that a local business had over 300 applications for an opening. Our growing number of homeless are living under the bridge because our options for low cost housing (now a five year waiting list?) are diminished and our Homeless Shelter is full.

Where do we look for help?

The Food Bank reports a record number of people soliciting assistance for food (more than they can adequately provide) and a local thrift store's business is thriving as a growing number of people look for discounted clothing and household articles.

Where do we look for help?

I believe the government is NOT the place to look. They are too busy anyway bailing out banks, automobile corporations and mortgage companies to have much less for the commom man---guys like you and me.

Ronald Reagan championed the cause of volunteerism and private contributions to legitimate need. George W. Bush talked about help for faith-based operations that would consider the plight of the poor. And apart from his verbalized commitment to government spending as the cure-all for social need, I have heard whispers of President Obama's call for individual involvement in and contribution to the plight of hurting Americans.

We have been asking the same question at the church I pastor; where do we look for help?

The easy answer is, "We look to God", and I would suggest there is an element of fundamental truth that is inescapable in the discovery of divine assistance. The Psalmist writes, "No king is saved by the size of his army; no warrior escapes by his great strength. A horse is a vain hope for deliverance; despite all its great strength it cannot save...we wait in hope for the Lord", Psalm 33:16-20.

I am not an advocate of spiritual welfare. It is not a scriptural truth, either, that "God helps those who help themselves", because there are some who cannot help themselves, and at some point in life--some sooner than others--we all need help from others.

AT our church I have been challenging our people with the concept of "overflow ministry"--the idea that the difference between what we need and what we have is surplus, or, "overflow". I have challenged our church family top share with others out of their "overflow". Here are some things we are doing and preparing to do.

*Gift Card Sunday--before Christmas we collected over $1500 of gift cards from our people that are handed out as needs for groceries and gasoline arise

*Resource Handbook--we have developed a handbook that identifieds resources from within our church family that are available to people for free, or at a reduced cost

*"Body Life" board--a bulletin board where people can identify "Things I have", along with "Things I need", to pair resources with needs.

*"Victory" Garden--development of church property for raising of food for needy families (ground to be plowed)

*Perishable Pantry--a supplement to the provision of the Food Bank (which we support financially) for needy families in supplying milk, meat, etc. (in development)

*Grace Job Corps--a support group for those out of work needing encouragement, refinement of skills in writing resumes, brain-storming about work opportunities, etc. (still in process)

These are just a few ideas that we have implemented, or, are seeking to develop to answer the question, "Is there help anywhere?"

Just imagine what would happen if we all pondered the same question, and used our "overflow" in a creative way to meet the needs of hurting people?