Episode 227
Giving to Churches, Helping Children & Prayers for the Deaf
Scripture-engaged people give most of their charity to churches, giving 13 times as much as the Bible disengaged, but also outpace the Bible disengaged in giving to non-church charities. Send Relief’s Family Advocacy Ministry (FAM) program is trying to tackle the problem one child – and one church – at a time. And, the International Mission Board is asking for Christians to pray for a group of deaf people in Asia.
Transcript
Scripture-engaged people give most of their charity to churches, giving 13 times as much as the Bible disengaged, but also outpace the Bible disengaged in giving to non-church charities. The Scripture engaged gave 62 percent more than the Bible disengaged to non-church charities, the ABS found.
The elderly, those 76 and older, gave to charity more often than younger generations in 2021. Half the members of Generation Z, ages 18-25, contribute to charity, compared to 84 percent of the elderly.
“We can attribute this pattern partly to economics. Many Gen Z adults aren’t earning their own money yet, or they’re at the bottom of the pay scale,” the ABS said. “But Gen X currently has the highest income of any group, and yet they are less likely to give than the two older generations. Is this a matter of disposable income, or is there a cultural commitment to philanthropy that’s stronger in the older groups?” Those who were ages 42-57 in 2021 were included in Gen X.
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Send Relief’s Family Advocacy Ministry (FAM) program is trying to tackle the problem one child – and one church – at a time. In fact FAM is hosting a webinar Nov. 15 for those who want to learn more about how their church can help. (Register here).
FAM helps churches with three ministry goals: prevention, connection and intervention.
Prevention helps churches develop ways to support and preserve biological families in need. Practical ministry often looks like babysitting or providing meals for these families.
Intervention refers to the role churches can play once a child does end up in the foster care system. Once a child enters the system, FAM equips churches to surround foster families within their congregations with support and also help raise up other church members to become foster parents.
Connection is the final stage of FAM, where adoption becomes the goal for children who cannot be reunited with their biological families. Supporting adoptive families, along with raising up new ones, goes along with this step.
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Good News for Today is sponsored by The Voice of the Martyrs
Good News for Today is made possible through our friends at The Voice of the Martyrs, a nonprofit organization that serves persecuted Christians around the world. Founded in 1967 by Richard and Sabina Wurmbrand, VOM is dedicated to inspiring believers to deepen their commitment to Christ and to fulfill His Great Commission — no matter the cost. Find out more and sign up for their free monthly magazine at vom.org/goodnews.
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The International Mission Board is asking for Christians to pray for a group of deaf people in Asia. The group living in Central Asia and attends a hearing church with an interpreter, but they struggle to understand the message and desire teaching intended for the Deaf. Pray for a sign language interpretation of God’s Word and teaching that’s appropriate for the Deaf.
To find other daily prayer needs connected to the IMB, visit IMB.org.
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