Religion 101: Escaping the pit of poverty

A missionary told our church of carrying clean water to a village in a country devastated by drought.

As he entered one of the villages, he saw a little boy with a gaunt appearance and parched lips.

He asked him if he would like a drink of water. He replied, "No sir, this isn't my day for water."

I have not heard of a place in America where drinking water is rationed.

However, Merced County is known to have a high rate of poverty.

A team of community and church leaders are working through FIL-Merced, which stands for "Foundation for Improved Living," to help families transition out of the poverty status.

FIL-Merced is part of a national campaign known as "Circle Campaign to End Poverty."

Crystal Anderson is chairwoman of FIL-Merced and is conducting a pilot seminar in our Olive Avenue Seventh-day Adventist Church each Tuesday evening as part of the FIL-Merced plan to eliminate poverty in our Merced County communities.

Crystal has had 20 years of experience as a human resources professional.

Crystal is also associated in the seminar with Marilyn Scorby, director of the child development center at Merced College.

Others involved in this pilot program are Linda Kaercher, director of the Merced County Head Start program, and Regina Demelo, who serves as assistant director of the FIL-Merced board.

Marilyn Scorby sums up the purpose of the 18-week pilot program as "a catalyst to help selected families take a transition step to become self-sufficient."

Our church is grateful for the opportunity to offer our facilities for these weekly meetings.

We recognize that Jesus spent far more time healing the sick and ministering to the poor than in preaching.

He taught that the purpose of life is to help those who are afflicted by a caring spirit that demonstrates God's love by meeting human needs in practical ways.

The Old Testament prophet Isaiah received a commission that FIL--Merced has accepted for this modern time: "The Lord has appointed me to bring good news to the poor." -- Isaiah 61:1. New Living Translation.

Religion 101 runs every Saturday written by a different pastor each week. Clark McCall is pastor at Olive East Seventh-day Adventist Church, 2222 E. Olive Ave. You can reach him at clark2924@comcast.net.