As evidenced since the devastating earthquake in Haiti, Christians everywhere are ready and willing to step up to the plate when a need arises. Many people think of the “church” as a building—a place people go on Sunday to clear their heads and be able to face the week ahead. But, it is much more than that. The Church is God’s collective people—those who have made Him master of their lives and who listen to His call. Christians (Christ followers) everywhere are walking the walk, not simply talking the talk, bemoaning circumstances and saying “I’ll pray for them.” Prayer is certainly powerful and necessary, but many Christians put their faith into action every day by serving others, and particularly those in need.
We saw this during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina when thousands of Southern Baptist disaster relief volunteers assisted in Mississippi and Louisiana providing thousands of meals, cleanup and recovery, shower trailers, child care, laundry, and communication. At that time, President Bush said, “Groups like yours have harnessed a power that no government bureaucracy can match.” In 2008 alone, the North American Mission Board (NAMB) prepared close to 8 million meals, and provided 90,000 showers, 247,000 gallons of water, and 118,951 volunteer days. NAMB is just one of dozens of ministry organizations that reach out to others not only in their communities, but in other countries—wherever the need presents.
The Church is not only providing “disaster relief” in times of catastrophe; they are also providing assistance to hurting families, marriages that are on the brink, the incarcerated, people struggling with dependency and depression, and grief management. They are visiting people in the hospital, preparing meals for funerals, building homes for the poor, cleaning up graffiti, and the list goes on. Wherever there is a need, Christians are there at the forefront.
What better reason to invest in church loan fund certificates—a socially responsible investment that yields results for you, and helps churches across the country do the things that promote the well-being of our families and social structure. In addition to being socially responsible, church loan fund certificates provide the opportunity to align your investments with your personal values, something known as values-based investing. It’s a way to put your money to work for something that is important to you, makes a difference in the lives of others, and advances the Kingdom of God.