I’m having a hard time. It’s probably my fault. I make it a point to read our Atlanta paper daily. I listen to news radio on the way to and from the office each day. I make sure I catch the local and the national news on television each night. I also read my Bible. I try to stay informed, and I also ask the question over and over, “What would Jesus do?” In addition, I have traveled extensively in my life – both for business and for pleasure – as I am in love with this wonderful world God has created and the marvelous people with whom He has populated it. Yep. It’s my own fault that I’m having such a hard time. If only I didn’t read the paper!

Different context
This great country of ours has experienced unprecedented economic growth over the last several years. Now the pundits say we are in an extreme slowdown at best and a recession at worse. I could respond (my graduate work and business experience – before I met Christ and entered the ministry – were in accounting, finance, and economics). However, to engage the argument on that level ignores the larger reality that I have seen firsthand in so many countries. On our worst day economically, we in the United States are much better off than millions in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. The reality is that the poor in our country are wealthy compared to many in other countries.

Now, don’t get me wrong. I am not saying we shouldn’t be concerned by the needs in our nation. I am just saying we need to look at those in context of the needs of a larger population of people around the world. As I read the Bible I am totally convinced that God’s love and caring concern extends equally inside and outside our borders.

My problem comes when I put the world’s needs alongside the concern that I share with many others who lead Christian ministries today. That concern is that every time our nation experiences an economic slowdown, the bottom falls out of charitable giving. It is natural in times like this to re-evaluate our spending and giving patterns. Unfortunately, past records show that our nation’s giving declines significantly more than our spending. In a faith-based ministry such as The Mission Society, when the giving declines, so does the ministry. It’s as simple as that.

Oh, the ironies
This is hard to watch. Christ’s command to make disciples does not change, even with a decline in giving. People need Jesus just as much today as they did last year. Ironically, in difficult times it is often easier to introduce someone to Christ than in prosperous time. In difficult times there is more need for ministries of compassion, but with declining funds, it is harder to accomplish them.

This year it will be even harder to watch the news knowing that millions, and perhaps billions, of dollars have been spent on the presidential primaries, and more will be spent on the election before the end of the year. It’s hard for me not to wonder how much ministry could be done with just a fraction of those resources.

As you read this issue of Unfinished, you will catch a glimpse of the worldwide work The Mission Society is doing to advance the cause of Christ. This ministry would not be possible without the faithfulness of countless individuals like you.

Please pray that during this time in our country, the hearts of people will be stirred and giving will remain strong, so the ministry God has laid out for us and for other Christian organizations can continue unabated.

The Rev. Dr. Philip R. Granger, The Mission Society president and CEO, is an elder in the North Indiana Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church.