Last week I was in our nation’s capital, speaking to about 50 people at the offices of the ONE Campaign. This is a hive of advocates for social justice and the poor, located just a block from the moneyed lobbyists of K street on one side, the U.S. Treasury Department on the other, and three blocks from White House. What a neighborhood!

This neighborhood has been shaken up a bit by the new kid on the block. ONE is an advocacy organization with more than 2 million members committed to fighting extreme poverty and preventable disease, particularly in Africa. I was one of the “midwives” who helped birth ONE in 2004, so it’s gratifying to see how the movement has grown in just five years.

While the folks in the room with me were like-minded on poverty issues, they weren’t all necessarily believers. But whenever I talk about my book, I can’t avoid sharing the gospel, because that’s what it’s all about. My call to serve the poor comes from God, as it does (or should) for all Christians. The audience was receptive … at least they laughed in all the right places!

One point I brought up was that everyone, regardless of religion, can agree on is that technology and travel have broadened our definition of “neighbor.” Americans can no longer say we don’t know about the suffering around the globe. Whether or not we have taken to heart Jesus’ words to “love your neighbor,” we are now aware that our neighbors are in distress—and we have unprecedented access and ability to do something about it.

This is ONE’s message, and it’s increasingly joined by many voices. But if you’re a Christian, be advised: This is no trend. “Love God. Love your neighbor”—that’s what Jesus asks of us. It’s my “job description”—and yours, too.