Here’s some thoughts I shared at the ARC conference today. Check out Luke 10:33-37.

Here’s verse 33 from the NIV:

But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him.

Here are six hot topics we have to be ready as a church to engage:

1. The need of engaging our very own cities
We have found (and are still finding) new ways to reach out to our city that are proving effective – like kids sports leagues, food distribution, mobile medical and dental clinics, dream centers, strip club outreaches and water giveaways. But what Healing Place Church does in Baton Rouge may not work in Topeka, Buffalo and Santa Barbara. You have to know your community and engage it based on the needs you see.

2. The need of engaging the poor
The Church has to develop a culture of recognizing the poor in and around our communities. They are there. We have to realize that “poor” isn’t just those with little in the way of finances, but those who are less fortunate than us – those who have a shortage in their health, in their family, in their relationships. The poor are among us. The poor are part of us. We just need to recognize and embrace them.

3. The need of engaging clean water
According to www.globalissues.org, 1.1 billion people have inadequate access to clean water. That’s about one out of six people on the planet! They also report that millions of women spend several hours a day collecting water. I have seen it going on first-hand when I was in Africa. We have to engage this problem that quite often can so easily be solved. For more information: Blood:Water Mission, 1000 Wells

4. The need of engaging AIDS
It isn’t just a homosexual problem, or a problem for Africa. It is our problem today. UNAIDS/WHO reports that 2.5 million people contracted the disease in 2007 alone. Statistics state that there are anywhere between 14 and 18 million children who have been orphaned by AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa. We cannot turn a blind eye to AIDS – we have to engage it by caring for those hurting and dying because of it and do all we can to help prevent others from contracting it. For more information: Children’s Cup, Mission of Mercy

5. The need of engaging human trafficking
Equip and Empower’s A21 Campaign site reports that nearly two million children are forcibly trafficked each year by the commercial sex trade industry. How can we not engage this need as the body of Christ? For more information: A21

6. The need of engaging our very own heart
We must increase our capacity personally and as groups of believers in the body of Christ so that we can actually do something about these needs. We have to keep our hearts in check – feeding ourselves the Word of God and spending time with the Author of life so that we can be filled with the truth that will set people free and see lives rescued from these terrible situations. We need to be messengers of hope – so we must continually fill our own hearts with the Giver of hope. We need to develop who we are. For more information: Dan Ohlerking’s post of notes from a recent HPC staff meeting I taught