The Jericho Road and the Global Highway

Give justice to the weak and the fatherless;
Maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute.
Rescue the weak and the needy. (Ps 82:3-4)

With all my heart I believe that this is the great issue; justice is how we participate in God’s greater story. Every one of us lives with a deep desire for purpose; as we begin to move in the rhythm of God’s compassion for the poor and the oppressed, we discover that significance and favor accompany us.

Jesus confronted apathy and avoidance with the story of the Good Samaritan. A beaten and helpless man was left to die on the side of the dangerous and narrow Jericho Road. Though others walked by him (although he was no more than eight feet away!), one person stopped. Engagement instead of avoidance; activated compassion instead of apathy. This was Jesus’ answer to the question, “Who is my neighbor?” But at this time in history, the Jericho Road has become a Global Highway. My neighbor is now in the slums of Haiti, the garbage dumps of Manila, the villages of India and Africa, the barrios of Nicaragua. Through 21st century technology, communication and transportation, I have ready access to my neighbor, no matter where he is.

The Impact Network is reflecting this reality in some very interesting ways right now. Increasingly, you who are members are engaging with each other to facilitate change in villages. And transformation is happening.

A man in Harare posted that he had seed available. Did anyone have a contact in western Zimbabwe who needed seed to plant? Someone else on the network saw this and connected him to a contact with exactly that need.

A remote village in Mindanao now has safe drinking water for the first time because only three weeks ago, network members from four different countries were made aware of the need and responded. ONE DAY LATER, a truck went to the village with the first load of filters. I was talking with the Philippines team three days ago and they told me that as they were installing the filters, six boats of militants came out from the marsh, pleading for clean water for their village too.

This week, our Nicaragua team posted pictures of the rice being harvested, dried and bagged. Most of this will go to market to provide fuds to purchase food for 2,000 children at the feeding centers. This happened because of network members finding out about an opportunity and responding, not only with their financial gifts, but ongoing encouragement and comments over the past 3 months as the rice was planted and grew. Community involvement in the 21st century.

Here are a few more updates:
We are starting our first North American “village” in Bristol, Connecticut. A group has begun to work in a very poor neighborhood; the response has been immediate and very encouraging. They are helping the community in a number of ways, including warm clothes for the children, providing a bed for a single mom, providing rides and visiting families, many of whom have been traumatized by a recent shooting.

We are preparing for a Journey of Compassion to Manila in February. We are going to a community of 250,000 people living in a garbage dump that was devastated by the typhoon that struck last month. A lot of key doors are opening for us to get desperately needed help to these people.

I am going to several African nations in early January. I will be scouting for future Journeys and doing research for upcoming projects. I will be meeting key leaders in Kenya, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Uganda, then meeting the Impact team for the Journey of Compassion in Mityana, Uganda.

While I am in Africa, Christina will be in Haiti with Adam LiVecchi. They are preparing for our first Journey of Compassion to that country. The tentative dates are June 13-25. Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. A door has opened for us to work in the midst of an area that is experiencing a remarkable outpouring of God’s Spirit.

As the Impact Network continues to grow, so does our combined capacity to connect people strategically with needs and opportunities around the developing world. If you are encouraged with what is happening in the Impact world, please consider inviting your friends to join as well. It is a privilege to be on this adventure with you.

Steve