Sometimes knowing how to get involved in complex political or social issues can be stressful and overwhelming – questions come up, like where do we focus our energy for the best results, what will make a difference, what kind of type of help is best, how does faith inform our work, how do we do good ministry without falling into paternalism, etc. I’ve been thinking about this issue of how things are not always black and white a lot lately – most important things in life are complex and hard to label, and most of us really would prefer neater, clear-cut categories I think. (more on this later…) But sometimes, in the midst of complex questions like how to end world hunger, a simple, clear, encouraging answer shines through. Here is one…
A colleague at work, Seth, told me this story after he helped get an event going in west Texas that was started and perpetuated by a zealous seven year-old. She saw the TV special with Brad Pitt this summer that talked about how many people are suffering from AIDS, poverty, and hunger around the world, and she wanted to do something to help. So she and her mom brought ONE Campaign materials to a children’s