How are we to serve the poor? Scripture is very clear about the heart of God for the oppressed, the poor, the vulnerable. Psalm 72 and Proverbs 31:1-9 are clear examples of the ideal leader of God’s people—addressing the needs of the afflicted and the children of the needy. Jesus’ life and teachings show us the compassion of the Father for the whole of a person’s life (Luke 4:16-19; Matthew 9:35-38; Matthew 25:31-46). And so we describe HTH as a holistic ministry centered in Christ.
To truly serve the poor, a constant theme in Scripture, means more than providing relief. Our goal must be to develop sustainable ministries and provide options and opportunities with the poor for sustainable living.
The big picture result of our efforts is that of the Model Village (Charlie Smith’s original project when he began his work in Honduras in 1984)—where holistic efforts are applied to provide for the most basic needs of the most vulnerable member. A developing Model Village will rise from ground level (compare Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs) with the addition of the ever present witness of a loving Christ who cares for the earthly and eternal needs of each person, each family, each community and each nation.
The Poverty Wheel is a graphic representation of the problem of poverty.
The HUB represents absolute poverty.
The SPOKES represent the different needs of those in poverty.
The RIM represents enough.
Taken from the Wes Stafford book “Too Small to Ignore”
Click on the wheel to visit Compassion International’s interactive wheel.
A Model Village
These are the questions we’ve asked in trying to determine what makes an ideal community:
- What is “Enough?”
- What do we want to accomplish in a village?
- What would cause us to say, this is good?
- What is needed to have a “Model Village?”
Every individual village is different and will have different needs. There is no one-size fits all solution that will enhance every village. However the following are a list of things Heart to Honduras believes are necessary in a “thriving” village
Clean Water – Adequate and appropriate sanitation and water acquisition.
Secure Housing – Structurally solid, habitable dwellings that are culturally appropriate.
Consistent Food Supply – Availability of affordable, sufficient and nutritious food and the ability to acquire the food either themselves or through a reasonable outlet.
Accessible Medical Care – Access to medical and dental clinics services and needed treatments and medicine.
Holistic Spiritual Nurture – The presence of a trained pastor and a spiritually alive congregation that ministers to the needs of the community.
Civic Minded Local Leadership – Honest, community minded leadership within the local political realm.
Quality Educational Opportunities – Well built and equipped schools that are staffed with trained and committed teachers.
Adequate Fair Employment – Job opportunities that pay a fair wage and provide decent working conditions.
Reliable Access to the Outside – Decent roads, bridges, buses and other ways of traveling from the village to more central locations.
