Getting to the Heart of Poverty

                                                                          

We've all seen the awful pictures of emaciated little children, video scenes of long lines of desperate parents seeking help for the ones they love in fly-infested Africa or people living off the garbage piles in India. It breaks our heart and we wish something could be done to "fix" the problem and end the suffering. We feel helpless against such overwhelming need. Can anything be done?

Does the Church of Jesus Christ really have a solution to this problem?

There are many believers who feel that caring for the poor is one of their highest priorities. Others say that church planting and discipleship must take priority.  Perhaps God has called us to do both in ways that reinforce each other. But how do we go about helping to raise people out of poverty? Is it even possible?

Regardless of how good our intentions are, without the essential foundation of biblical character all efforts to overcome poverty will fail. There is nothing wrong with helping people, but we must focus our efforts on what helps people get out of poverty--not keep them continually dependent on outsiders for their survival. 

The Bible teaches that poverty ultimately derives from the fall of man and the four broken relationships that have resulted. These are with God, with others, with ourselves, and with creation as a whole. These broken relationships have affected us, but has become a crushing burden for the poor that satan has has used to convince the poor to believe a lie and keep them in poverty. These are the lies of fatalism, victim-hood, and powerlessness. They have lost hope that they or anyone else can change their circumstances. These lies must be defeated. And they can only be defeated by presenting them with the truth of God's love and power through Jesus Christ, which is just what the church is best able to provide.

Without a moral structure based on biblical principles, short-term self interest becomes the prime motivation, and people will lie, cheat, and steal to get what they want instead of doing the hard honest work that builds the trust and spiritual capital that makes successful economic interaction possible. Transformed lives are the foundation upon which any society can build and economy and overcome poverty.

AIM is seeking to change the lives of the people in India through building a relationship with Jesus Christ who alone is the source of true freedom and hope.

We are beginning to plan for next year's needs. Upcoming plans include increased Bible distribution, several evangelistic meetings in the north of Andhra Pradesh, and in the state of Karnataka, and an increased effort to reach out to the Lepers of India by providing food, water, clothing, and the gospel. Every $100 will provide 400 Bibles. You can help with a special gift or regular monthly commitment going here and Donating Now.

Prayer Request   

Pray for Johnpaul, his wife Sudha Rani, and their children as they faithfully press on in the kingdom work.

Pray for new partnerships to be formed throughout the world in supporting AIM
Pray for the ministries: Orphanages, Pastors, Churches, Lepers, and reaching the lost in India

Pray for the Unreached  Aghori of India  

Population: 66,000                                                 
World Popl: 66,000                                                                                                                               
Main Language: Hindi                                                                                                                             
Main Religion: Hinduism
Status: Least-Reached
Christ-Followers: Few, less than 2%          
   

    

Asia International Mission is an IRS approved 501(c)(3) non-profit ministry. 

All gifts are tax-deductible and 100% of donations are used as designated

                       

Staying Awake

Do you remember the all-time low in the history of intercession? Jesus asked His inner circle of disciples to to wait in the garden while He went a little farther to pour out His soul to the Father as He looked toward His imminent death on the cross.

Within minutes, the three disciples were sound asleep. He said to them, "What! Could you not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit is indeed willing, but the flesh is weak." (Matthew 26:40-41)

The Greek term for watch literally refers to staying awake. So essentially, Jesus was saying, "Couldn't you stay awake with me even one hour? Wake up and pray!"I cannot imagine the disappointment Jesus must have felt. As for the disciples, they were missing the action during one of the most important moments in biblical history.

I wonder how many times I have missed what God was doing because I dozed off when I should have moved forward on my knees to the front lines of the battle.

Our president, Russ Sharrock is doing well after having both of his legs amputated, and he is looking forward to returning to India in the Spring of 2012. Please keep him in your prayers.

The building of the Children's Home is coming along well, but we are only at about 2/3 of the funds needed. If you would like to help complete the new home you can
Donate Now

Prayer Requests
Pray the Lord will bring more youth and adults to get involved with international mission outreaches
Pray for the financial needs of the ministry  
Pray for a harvest of new believers in India