Two days ago you wrote a list of needs you saw around you and committed to pray. One or two of them might have kept niggling away at you during the weekend. Whatever you’ve been praying about recently, it’s time to ask: what do you want me to do about it, Lord?
Green: Spend a few moments in prayer, recalling the previous days’ suggestions for action as well as needs known personally to you. Ask God to show you what to do next.
Amber: Have a look at http://www.acts435.org.uk and consider how you could get involved to help those in need across the UK. Making a one-off gift is simple yet life changing.
Red: Which issues stood out to you when you wrote your list? Find a local charity that cares for those problems and pursue the idea of supporting them regularly.
‘…And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need.’ (Acts 4:33–35 NIV)
We are all unique, and that means we are all moved by different situations. The plight of a family made homeless will touch one person deeply, whilst another is moved to tears to hear of how a man has found himself drowning in debt after losing his job. At Acts 435, we see situations like this all the time as we seek to help people in poverty.
One man found himself homeless when he faced a health condition that meant he could not work for three months and he was given notice on his accommodation. Desperate to avoid the alcohol scene in the town centre he slept in the local park, but winter was coming. Thankfully he visited the Salvation Army to get some food and met an advocate for Acts 435 who said those life-giving words: ‘We care and we want to help.’
The person shared the need on www.acts435.org.uk and our donors responded, enabling the homeless gentleman to purchase a tent, camping stove and a second-hand bicycle. He was soon back to work and lived in his tent for a year until getting settled back into council housing. Acts 435 gave him a crucial hand-up in his life and he was blown away by the kindness of strangers.
We marvel at our community of faithful donors who step in to meet the needs that speak to them. Our network of volunteer advocates would be nothing without this army of supporters to financially provide for the people we work with.
Like 40acts, this year Acts 435 is celebrating our 10th anniversary. Ten years of enabling people to directly meet the specific needs of individuals. We rejoice that donors have met so many needs like beds, white goods, school uniform, debt relief order fees, bus fares, and much more.
Acts 435 shows that people do care when they hear about the struggles of another. We work through a network of local churches and charities, which enabled one of our volunteers in Newcastle to contact another in Halifax and ask her to look out for an ex-offender who was moving there and needed assistance. She said, ‘It is so beautiful. God has put us all around the country to meet these needs.’
We are surrounded by need. Here is an invitation to fill one today.
Jenny Herrera is Acts 435’s executive director and has been involved in the charity since operations began in October 2009.
A chartered accountant by profession, she also lived in Guatemala for six years where she ran an orphanage. Her time is now split between charity and church activities, all of which she is passionate about.
website: www.acts435.org.uk
twitter: @acts435
Today’s charity is: Acts 435