I remember sitting with a group of community leaders a few years back, trying to explain why our church was involved in international development work. Someone asked me, “Isn’t that a bit outside the scope of what a church should be doing? Shouldn’t we stick to preaching?”
I understood the question. I really did. But here’s what I’ve come to realize over the years of working with Bridges of Hope: caring for the poor, the widow, and the orphan isn’t an add-on to the Christian life. It’s the very heart of it.
You see this throughout Scripture. It’s not something you can brush aside if you’re serious about following Christ.
What the Bible Actually Says
The Old Testament is pretty clear about this stuff. God’s law included specific instructions to leave the edges of fields unharvested so the poor could gather food (Leviticus 19:9-10). The prophets weren’t exactly gentle about it either. Isaiah 1:17 commands us to “learn to do right; seek justice and correct the oppressor. Defend the fatherless and plead the case of the widow.“
God doesn’t just suggest we care about vulnerable people. He identifies Himself with them. Deuteronomy 10:18 describes God as one who “executes justice for the fatherless and widow, and loves the foreigner, giving him food and clothing.” When we’re helping the marginalized, we’re actually participating in what God Himself is doing.
I think about that verse a lot when I see the work Bridges of Hope does in communities around the world—battling illiteracy, improving healthcare, helping families escape the kind of poverty I witnessed growing up in Burkina Faso. This isn’t just charity. It’s joining God in His work.
The New Testament Gets Even More Direct
If the Old Testament lays the foundation, the New Testament builds the house on top of it. Jesus Himself said in Matthew 25:40, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me.” That’s a pretty stunning statement. When we help someone in need, we’re doing it for Christ.
The early church understood this. Acts 6 describes how they appointed deacons specifically to ensure widows were being properly cared for. They didn’t treat humanitarian work as separate from their spiritual mission. It was the same thing.
This Is What True Religion Looks Like
Here’s where it gets really personal. James 1:27 says, “Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.“
This verse used to make me uncomfortable. I’d read it and think, “Well, James is probably exaggerating for effect. There must be more to religion than that.” But you know what? He’s not saying this is the only thing that matters. He’s saying this is the proof. If your faith doesn’t lead you to care for vulnerable people, something’s wrong.
I’ve seen this play out in real life. People who come to faith and start serving others—whether through their local church, through Bridges of Hope, or just by helping a neighbor—they grow in their faith in ways that sitting in a pew never could. There’s something about putting your faith into action that makes it real.
Practical Application in Our Community
This isn’t just theoretical. In Lethbridge, we have opportunities every day to live this out. It might mean supporting a food bank, volunteering time, or giving financially to organizations that are making a difference. Our church has partnered with local groups to address food insecurity, homelessness, and support for single parents.
Through Bridges of Hope, we’ve seen what happens when this biblical mandate meets practical action. Thousands of children have been educated. Millions of meals have been delivered. But more than that, communities have been transformed because people actually did what Scripture commands.
The Bottom Line
I’m not a perfect person. I stumble and fall short all the time. But I keep coming back to this: the Bible doesn’t give us an option to ignore the poor, the widow, the orphan, or the foreigner. God’s heart is clearly, unmistakably with the vulnerable. And if we claim to follow Him, our hearts better be there too.
Sometimes people ask me why we spend so much energy on humanitarian work at Miz City Church. My answer is simple: because God does. Because Jesus did. Because James said this is what pure religion looks like.
So whether you’re serving through a global organization like Bridges of Hope or just helping a neighbor in need, know that you’re doing exactly what God has called you to do. You’re putting your faith into action. And that’s something I believe He smiles on.
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