Over the years I have learned that meeting needs is a way to share the Gospel. It is a very biblical strategy used by Jesus, the Apostles and the 1st century Church. Meeting needs in a loving, compassionate and Christ centered way is one thing that makes us different from the world. It should be one thing that makes the Lost want to know more about what we have. Unfortunately many church benevolence ministries operate the same way that the world’s does. Tons of paperwork, rules and hoops to jump through are presented to you by people who seem more interested in “fixing” you or catching you in a lie than loving you and helping you. Too many churches have benevolence for members only and lose the one great connection they have to a hurting and dying world.

Mission Raleigh is all about meeting needs. We love to meet needs; it is our way to “earn” the right to tell people about Jesus. You want to know how to meet the need of an urban child. Show up in their community with a tire pump and few inner tubes. WOW you have met a felt need and you will be very busy. But during that time while you working on that tire there will be a child who will hang on every word you tell them as you meet their need. What about urban youth you say, well I am glad you asked. A few $10.00 cards will add minutes on to cell phones and you will have met a real need. How about just opening the computer lab and let them check their MySpace and Facebook. This will give you great chances to point them toward Jesus. Adults can be groceries, bill or rent assistance. But if you deliver that with a lecture or judgment then just keep it because it has lost any effectiveness. Don’t underestimate the need of listening when working with urban adults. The disenfranchised are disenfranchised because no one listens to them. Jesus taught us how listening meets a felt need in John 4 as he listened to the Samaritan women at the well. Listening leads to ministering. There can be no effective ministering without first effective listening.

Meeting needs will allow us to earn the right to share the Gospel with all cultures and all ages. Meeting needs has been clearly modeled to us by Christ and the Apostles. Let’s find ways to meet the needs of this needy world.