Falls Church Current Article

Hi, Everyone,

I wanted to share an article I wrote for the upcoming newsletter for our church.  Sorry if this spoils the surprise for anyone!

Matt

Why we should care about poverty

By Matthew Konopa

My wife and I were recently blessed with the privilege of participating in the TFCA Global Engagement Trip to Nicaragua.  The purpose of the trip was to work alongside our brothers and sisters in a feeding ministry for orphaned and disadvantaged children in one of the poorest areas of the country. Without a doubt, it was an amazing, life-changing trip where God revealed himself to the whole team.  We began with the expectation that we would get as much out as we would pour into the kids, but now realize we got so much more than they did. 

I could write about how the only daily meal these kids ate came from this ministry, or how you could see the impact it had on kids that were visibly emerging from malnutrition, or the way the pastor lived the love of God into their lives.  But the lasting impression that remains with me after the trip and time since is how close we all live to poverty.

In our insulated community in our insulated country, who would think that poverty can be so close?  I had one of those providential connections where I was comparing notes with one of the staff members at Verbo Church, where the feeding ministry operated.  After telling her where I worked, she noted that her brother worked at a call center and she thought he did some work for my company.  It was an interesting moment, but I assumed this was just a coincidence and made a mental note to check once I got home.  Three weeks later, in a quiet moment, I remembered that I needed to check.  To my surprise, I found he was listed in the company directory!  In a flood, memories of the week, the children’s faces, and the great work this young woman was doing came back afresh to me.  What a blessing it was to have this connection to her and the kids!

Something that many of us often struggle with is the personal linkage to a cause that makes us want to participate, a relatable experience that helps us understand the importance of leading the charge. What I was reminded of, and what I would like to remind you of is that poverty is not countries and continents away.  It is close to you and it is personal! In my case, it was a colleague whose sister loves on these children who come from families struggling to put food on the table. For you, it might be coworker’s brother who recently became homeless, or a relative of your neighbor who works in a sweatshop. What if that poverty goes unaddressed?  Can we help with physical, spiritual, and emotional poverty?

I challenge you to consider giving and serving on a GET trip or to missions in general at TFCA.  In Mark 12:31, Jesus says “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.” Let me encourage you to love others in thought, word, and deed.