NATIONS AND NEIGHBORHOODS
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
-Acts 1:8
The passage above is a familiar passage of scripture for most followers of Jesus. It has been said that these words of Jesus are more relevant to us than just a few mentioned geographical locations. In fact, they are said to be more metaphorical than literal to us today.
The metaphor being…
- Jerusalem = my own home
- Judea = my own community
- Samaria = people outside of my people group
- Ends of the Earth = that one is pretty self explanatory
go.build.love. has worked, since its inception, to be witnesses to the ends of the earth. In fact, we have served communities in 12 different countries and in more than 100 villages, impacting tens of thousands of people through its water and building projects.
Our mission is to build stronger communities on top of water but what if the way to a stronger community isnt the gift of clean water but something entirely different?
And what about those right here in our own neighborhoods who are facing crisis, heartache, or hopelessness. What about the dire needs that exist right here?
In this passage in Acts (the words of Jesus no less) it is the word “AND” that stands out to me. You will witnesses in Jerusalem AND Judea AND Samaria AND the ends of the earth. In other words, you will be witnesses in your home AND your community AND to people outside your people group AND the ends of the earth. It never says “or” as if we were to have the option or a choice… Jesus wants us to go to them all!
I believe that Jesus wants us and go.build.love. to GO to them ALL. I also believe that our GO will look somewhat different and I also believe that that’s okay (see core value – we do good different).
So, what does that look like?
Well, let us introduce you to CARE PORTAL!
Care Portal is a tech platform that is designed to connect you, your church, your business, your organization, and your community with those who are in need. In other words, CarePortal enables care-sharing: a method of collaboration that empowers people to share the responsibility of caring for people in need. Right now, in real-time.
The needs highlighted on our Care Portal are vetted by family advocates and professionals who know and understand first hand the struggles these families face and together we get to disrupt the struggle with dignity, love, and care.
Because we simply want to do what Jesus tells us to do in nations far away AND neighborhoods right here. For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’ “Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters,* you were doing it to me!’
GET INVOLVED
Absolutely not! In fact, the hope is that by exposing more to the mission of gbl here in the US through these local projects we will be able to do even more around the world. The hope is that more people will find their place in the gbl story using their unique gifts and talents… and that story may just start here.
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