Curtis Ramsey-Lucas - Hang Out With The Poor

In today's special interest session "Breaking Cycles of Poverty," Jimmy Dorrell, founder of Mission Waco, suggested that one of the problems we have in the church is knowing we need to love the poor, but not knowing how.

So, for those inspired to return to their churches and communities to start programs, he suggested, "Don't do anything before you hang out with the people in the community. Make some friendships. Too often we do for the poor without first figuring out what they need."

Dorrell noted that effective ministry models must be holistic and incarnational; they must encompass the wider systemic scope of the issues; they must be replicable yet contextually appropriate; and they must include the poor and marginalized in design, implementation and leadership. Most important, they must show evidence of impact and sustainability.

As Baptists covenant together to care for the marginalized, I'm encouraged by the Jimmy Dorrells in our midst, by their example of what is possible in Christ. They remind me that being effective in ministry is not dependent on having all the answers at the start. Actually, perhaps just the opposite is true. Maybe it’s the questions that prompt our engagement that are most lacking in our response, or perhaps we need to begin simply by meeting our neighbors where they are to minister with, rather than in their behalf.