Moses (Jon Warren/WV)

My travels in the developing world have proved to me that poverty is not really a lack of things, but a lack of options. By and large, those who are poor are not less intelligent or lazier than others. They’re not where they are by choice. Often they are trapped in circumstances beyond their control.

But some remarkable people do manage to break free. I want to tell you about Moses, a 47-year-old farmer who lives in Uganda’s Luwero district, a place wracked by civil war in the 1980s. As a young father, Moses struggled to make a life in a devastated land. “There was no health care center,” he says. “There were no neighboring houses. People were very few. The road was there. A car couldn’t drive on it.” He started small, growing bananas, and gradually added other crops. World Vision helped his community, but life was still an uphill climb.

In 2006, Moses crafted a vision, writing it down with a blue pen on an 8 x 11 piece of paper. It says, “This vision came into my mind after realizing that poverty is not an easy task to deal with unless you are organized.” He went on to take stock of his assets and plan how to manage and expand them. Then, a loan from World Vision earlier this year turbo-charged his enterprises.

Moses' vision statement (Click to see larger)

Today, Moses runs a 16-acre farm, raises 170 chickens and two cows, and makes a tidy profit selling coffee and milk. His newest endeavor: building rental houses. Under different circumstances, this man would be running a corporation. Heck, he could do my job!

This Labor Day, please join me in praying for people like Moses who defy stereotypes and overcome tremendous obstacles. Also, lift up in prayer the jobless and those still trapped in poverty, here and around the world.

When you have kids in college, as I do, the end of the summer is bittersweet. The “bitter” part comes not only with seeing them off—it’s also watching your bank balance plummet as the bills come in. Higher education isn’t cheap in America, but it’s a good investment.

A microfinance client in Cambodia shows off the results of a fishing-net purchase. (Jon Warren/WV)

There’s a big difference between a gift and an investment. It’s best described by the adage you’ve probably heard a million times: “Give a man a fish, and he’ll eat today; teach a man to fish, and he’ll eat for a lifetime.” When people have nothing, that fish is a godsend—it keeps them alive another day. But when people’s basic needs are met and they’re ready for the chance to thrive, a well-placed loan provides the “fishing line.”

Microfinance—providing small loans and support to the working poor to start and grow their own businesses—is a powerful investment. For World Vision, it’s the finishing touch on poverty-fighting programs such as providing food, water, education, and agricultural help. Microfinance creates an economic engine that sustains the good work we’ve achieved with communities.

World Vision recently started Micro to connect U.S. donors with developing-world entrepreneurs. You can choose someone whose name, circumstances, and business you can get to know and help fund small loans for them, tracking their progress over time.

It helps to put a face on poverty, doesn’t it? Well, here’s another one: mine. I was a microfinance client in my early years. I came from a poor family, and my parents couldn’t afford to send me to college. But I was able to get a loan to go to Cornell. I would not be here today without that opportunity—it transformed my life.

Check out Micro. For a relatively small price, you can invest in building a brighter future for someone—somene like me.

Yesterday I connected with a long-time friend who had just been told that his job was being cut. It was clearly a financial decision by his employer—but that doesn’t make the reality of losing one’s job any easier. He is a man of integrity and a hard worker. Aren’t those qualities that God recognizes and rewards with blessings? Yes, but not always in the way we expect.

(Jon Warren/World Vision)

I reminded my friend that twice in my career I was let go from jobs. Both times were difficult, but also seasons of spiritual growth and anticipation around what God had in store for me next. In those dark moments, I could not have know that God would lead me to the place I find myself today—serving in a position that fits my gifts and passions. Those tough times were truly blessings that I never could have imagined.

I’m praying for my friend, that God will direct him to a new place of service and joy.

What about you? How have you seen God turn your dark moments into something glorious and unexpected?

Two events this week underscore the fact that the world is a dangerous place for Christians. Ten people working for the International Assistance Mission were shot dead in Afghanistan, allegedly killed because of their faith. Then a militant group in Somalia—where World Vision has worked for 18 years—ordered us and two other Christian organizations to close down operations, claiming the groups are proselytizing. (World Vision provides aid to people regardless of their religion.)

Such news hits us hard, and yet it never weakens our resolve to work in the cruel corners of the world. Throughout World Vision’s 60-year history, God has called our ministry to serve where Jesus is—wherever that is.

Perhaps God hasn’t called you to a war-torn country. But is He calling you to something risky in a different way—because it’s out of your comfort zone? For me, the call to join World Vision in 1998 was just that. I didn’t want to give up my comfortable, predictable life. I resisted, wanting to stay where I felt safe.

Jonah in the Bible also resisted God’s call to go to Nineveh and preach to pagans. And you know what happened to him—he landed in the belly of the whale. That’s a harsh example, but still a valid one; when I was tempted to turn down the World Vision job, my wife, Reneé, said, “If we turn our backs on God’s will for our lives, what makes us think we’ll be better off? Maybe God is saving us from something we can’t know—one of our kids getting into trouble, losing your job, a terrible accident, or worse.” And in her wisdom, Reneé reminded me that living in God’s will is the only safe place to be.

This is our assurance: God has a plan for our lives. Wherever that takes us or how much it stretches us, we don’t need to fear the consequences.

Where has God called you? In what unexpected places or situations have you found peace by following His will?

My executive career has spanned industries as diverse as shaving cream, video games, fine china, and now, humanitarian aid. I’ve learned a lot of leadership lessons along the way.

But the teacher who has inspired me most is Jesus. He had a tough job. Imagine if this were your assignment: “Select a group of people who are going to bring the good news to the ends of the earth.” No pressure! Jesus selected 12 people, several of whom were unlikely candidates—He saw past the résumé and into their hearts. Jesus spent three years investing in them, teaching them, and casting a vision.

Then He basically said, “I’m leaving now, and you need to do it.” Of course, He sent the Holy Spirit to inform and inspire them. But He didn’t come back every six months for performance reviews. He said, “Go into all the earth and make disciples of all nations, teaching them everything I’ve taught you.” That foundational leadership worked out rather well: He started with 12, and 2,000 years later, there are 2 billion Christians in the world.

Today’s leaders must shepherd this massive flock while continuing to make new disciples and staying true to Christ’s teachings. This week, thousands of them are finding inspiration at the Willow Creek Global Leadership Summit, an annual event hosted in South Barrington, Ill., and sent via satellite to 200 locations.

Many World Vision staff are there as well, supporting the summit’s goal of equipping Christian leaders. In his opening message, Willow Creek Senior Pastor Bill Hybels mentioned our founder, Bob Pierce, highlighting his passion and focus. Since so many pastors have asked me about how their churches might take action to serve the world’s poor, we are offering free Gospel Quest kits to all 40,000 attendees. My prayer is that churches will embark on the six-week quest (based on The Hole in Our Gospel) as a way to expand their commitment to loving their neighbors. 

Please pray for everyone involved in the summit, that the lessons they learn there will energize and equip them to do the world’s toughest job—for the world’s greatest boss.

Here in the Northwest, we’ve had a particularly cool and wet summer so far, and everything’s in bloom. Flowers have sprung up where, at some past moment, somebody planted a seed. Even the gardener may have forgotten about it, but a burst of color and fragrance affirms the act.

(Jon Warren/World Vision)

We’re all planting seeds, metaphorically. The things we say, the way we treat people, the example we set all can have an impact on those around us. On this side of heaven, we may never know the results.

One person who influenced me at a key moment was John Stott. One night in graduate school, I read his book Basic Christianity cover-to-cover. I was an atheist when I started reading, but by the time I finished the book, I knew it was God’s truth. Recently I wrote to Dr. Stott, thanking him for his impact on my faith and sharing how my life changed as a result.

Though I’m no Dr. Stott, I feel blessed to know that The Hole in Our Gospel is also a tool God is using to plant seeds in people’s hearts. I’ve heard from pastors, politicians, and even a major-league baseball player that my book compelled them to step out in faith for the poor. Clearly, the book is reaching a wide range of people. And all I can do is praise God for giving me this opportunity to serve Him.

What seeds are you planting today? Or think of those who influenced you. Isn’t this a good time to tell them how you’ve “bloomed”?

Six months can go by pretty fast when your life is relatively easy and structured. You go to work, come home, and relax on the weekends, barely noticing the time passing.

But when every day is a struggle, six months is a long time. In Haiti, it has been a long and arduous six months since the earthquake destroyed much of Port-au-Prince and ended more than 220,000 lives. Think about what it would be like to live in tents and temporary housing for 180 days, without most of your possessions, dependent on others for food and clean water, recovering from physical injuries—and grieving lost loved ones.

Haiti’s suffering captivated the world’s attention in January, but as it always happens, we’ve moved on to other things—the oil spill in the Gulf, Supreme Court decisions, the World Cup. Even for me, Haiti is not always top-of-mind. Fortunately, I receive regular updates from my World Vision colleagues there, sharing their successes and struggles, praise reports and prayer requests.

Among the progress to date (click here to read a full report):

• Food to more than 1.86 million people
• Water and sanitation in 28 camps
• Safe zones and recreation for children in 22 locations
• Five mobile health clinics and five static clinics serving more than 11,000 people
• Basic supplies distributed to 120,000 people

These are significant accomplishments, but Haiti is on a steep uphill climb to recovery. More than 1 million people are still homeless; many are without jobs. Removing rubble is an immense task. And the onset of the hurricane season poses a real concern for more devastation.

Six months later, Haitians are clinging to hope. But Psalm 34:18 says, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” God hasn’t forgotten Haiti—and we can’t, either. Please continue to pray.

P.S. Watch a video in which World Vision workers reflect on the Haiti quake.

My church small group just finished an excellent study: Start>Becoming a Good Samaritan. I heard about start at the concept stage, because World Vision partnered with Zondervan and The C2 Group to produce it, and I contributed an introduction. Early on, it sounded good.

But the proof is in using the material, especially with a group of people who aren’t quite so steeped in poverty and justice issues as I am. Having done so, I can highly recommend start. A five-star cast of Christians appears on the DVD: Chuck Colson, Joni Eareckson Tada, Kay Warren, John Ortberg, Eugene Peterson, and others. The biblically based content is thought-provoking, exploring such issues as pandemic diseases, social injustice, and the environment, and each session provides interesting ways to “live out” what you’ve learned.

If your small group is intrigued by the story of the Good Samaritan and its applications for you today, this is—as the title suggests—a great place to start.

To go deeper, especially if The Hole in Our Gospel resonated with you, try Gospel Quest, a resource for small groups and Sunday school classes. Developed by Cross Section (which created the 40 Days of Purpose campaign materials), Thomas Nelson, and World Vision, the six sessions and DVD dig into what it means to love your neighbor. It’s not exactly a feel-good experience. But I’ll quote a woman who shared her feelings about Gospel Quest: “My heart is hurting and bursting with joy at the same time.”

Have you studied start>Becoming a Good Samaritan or Gospel Quest? If so, let me know how it went. What other resources have inspired your small group to put your faith in action?

P.S. If your church wants to try Gospel Quest, check out this offer for free copies of The Hole in Our Gospel.



Getting ready for July 4^th? When I think of the required elements for the holiday—flags, food, and fireworks, picnics and parades—it strikes me that what we’re really celebrating is patriotism, not independence. After all, it has been 234 years since America broke away from British rule—we’ve become quite comfortable with self-reliance.

(Jon Warren/World Vision)

I’m rather comfortable with independence, myself. You might already know my story: I took my destiny into my own hands early on. When I was 10, I realized that my struggling, divorced parents wouldn’t be able to make things happen for me. Eight years, I remember thinking—that’s how long I have to make it till I’m on my own. I did it; I finished high school and got a scholarship to Cornell. And along the way, I became convinced that I didn’t need anyone, especially not God.

I’m thankful that as a graduate student, the time came when I made a 180-degree change and committed my life to Christ. But it took me years and many life lessons before I fully surrendered to God. The Israelites learned reliance the hard way, too. During the 40 years they wandered in the desert, God gave them daily manna, but only just enough, so they couldn’t hoard it or store it up. Every day, they had to trust in God’s provision.

That’s a tough spot. There are those who might even say it’s un-American to rely on someone or something else; we are a pull-yourself-up-by-your-bootstraps culture. And yet, as a Christian, if you don’t surrender all to God, your faith is dead in the water.

So maybe it’s counter-cultural, but this Fourth of July, I’d like to set off a few fireworks to celebrate my dependence on my Lord and my God, who made me and knows me and in whom I can fully trust.

I often think of my book as a little kite made out of old newspapers, sticks, and string. I cobbled it together, took it to a hill, and prayed God would send the wind to lift it and let it fly.

Andrew Goodwin/World Vision

At first, I thought the “wind” would come from promotion by my publisher, Thomas Nelson, and by World Vision, as well as some media attention, all of which did happen. But what has surprised and delighted and humbled me is the unexpected way my “kite” has taken flight—through people like you.

Yes, I’m talking to you. If you’re reading this blog, it’s a good chance you’re one of the people who told a friend about The Hole in Our Gospel. You suggested it for your church small-group study, or you’re a pastor and you shared it with your congregation. You blogged about it. You tweeted about it. You wrote a customer review on an online bookseller.

Yesterday I had coffee with a couple in Sacramento who bought 440 copies to give to pastors and friends. Via a recent Facebook post, a woman named Gloria told me, “I work in a Bible bookstore and I tell people that you gave the best explanation for poverty I’ve ever read.” Paul, a Catholic priest from Nigeria, said that he has recommended my book to those in his network—one of many people across the globe who are doing the same.

I’m deeply thankful for your efforts. And I know it’s not for me. God is working through you and me, and this book is simply a humble instrument to create change in our world. Thank you, all of you, for helping me fly this kite as a witness to the good news of Jesus’ perfect gospel.

When my children were small, they would make art projects for me at school or camp. Often these creations featured stuff like dry macaroni, glitter, construction paper, clay, and pipe cleaners. From a purely aesthetic point of view, sometimes they were kind of goofy-looking. But because these gifts came from my child’s heart, I loved them. I praised my son or daughter, and I hung the artwork on my wall at the office for all to see.

I was thinking of this recently as I reflected on God’s love for me—an earthly father’s love magnified a million times. He sees our hearts and loves who we are, and He praises us for what we do for Him. Sometimes our best efforts might look to Him like old pasta poorly glued on paper, but like any Father anywhere, He cherishes them.

I like to think God hangs my rudimentary “art projects” on His wall in heaven. This breaks my heart and fills me with joy, all at the same time.

Father’s Day is a great opportunity to celebrate our earthly fathers—but also the ultimate Father, who teaches us, every day, what love truly is.

Last weekend, at the home of Max Lucado, I was served a to-die-for dessert called “gooey-butter pie.” Each piece was worth five miles on the treadmill. I’m sure there must be some connection here to Luke 12:48—and I paraphrase—to whom many calories are given, much exercise is required.

Rich Stearns and Max Lucado in Ethiopia in 2009.

Seriously, the actual verse in Luke applies not just to individuals, but also to churches. Max Lucado’s church, Oak Hills Church in San Antonio, Texas, is truly blessed. Its congregation is more than 8,000 members strong and has many vibrant ministries and small groups. These folks could easily bask in the glow of having bestselling author Max and the dynamic Randy Frazee at the pulpit and just keep to themselves.

But they don’t. Oak Hills goes out to help “reap the harvest” through missions programs in Brazil, Burkina Faso, Haiti, Nicaragua, and the local community. With Max and Randy’s leadership, they’re exploring how to be a church of change like the early Christians in the book of Acts. And Oak Hills and World Vision share a desire to help children in poor communities, so while I was there, we did some dreaming about what we can do together.

I’ll never forget what Pastor Morgan Chilulu in Zambia told me: “A church within its four walls is no church at all.” Oak Hills is bursting out of its walls—no gooey-butter pie necessary.

How have you or your church been “given much”? What does that compel you to do for your neighbor in need? I believe the church can literally change the world—do you?

I love to watch “The Biggest Loser.” It’s fascinating and strangely satisfying to see people overcome their struggles with obesity—sometimes even losing the equivalent of an adult person’s weight over the course of the show.

Did you know that there are “Biggest Loser” TV programs in other countries, including the U.K., Australia, Brazil, and even Brunei? The real surprise for me: South Africa, where many people are chronically hungry, aired a version in 2008.

Maybe we’re not so different from South Africa. Because while we have a national weight problem—some call it an “obesity epidemic”—there are also millions of Americans who don’t have enough nutritious food to eat. A recent U.S. Department of Agriculture report shows that in 2008, the year our economy tanked and so many people lost their jobs, hunger levels spiked. Nearly 50 million people lacked sufficient food, including nearly 17 million children. That’s nearly one in four children in America going hungry.

Of course, we will not see famine and starvation here on the level of what tragically happens in Niger, Democratic Republic of Congo, or Burundi. But statistics like these from the USDA are a sobering reminder that there is need right here in our own backyard—worse than ever, given the economic downturn.

Saturday is National Hunger Awareness Day. If you’re among the blessed to have plenty of food, why not do something to help our nation’s hungry—donate to a food bank, volunteer at a soup kitchen, or get involved with a church ministry to provide food in your community? And pray for those who are “losing big” despite living in a land of plenty.

P.S. I’d also appreciate your prayers as I travel to Texas this weekend to be with Max Lucado at Oak Hills Church.

On Memorial Day, we remember those who have given their lives in service to our country—an incredible sacrifice. With so many Americans in active duty, this holiday is more important than ever.

Perhaps there’s room in this observance for others who have sacrificed—not for their country, but for humanity. I already knew that violence against aid workers was on the rise, but it really hit home in March, when seven World Vision staff members were killed in a brazen attack on our office in Pakistan.

There was a time when humanitarian workers could operate within conflict zones with some degree of security, protected by their status as noncombatants. Since the 1990s, attacks on relief workers have increased. You can argue that there are more aid agencies sending civilians into unstable environments such as Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, or Sudan’s Darfur region, but it’s not that these folks are getting caught in the crossfire—they’re being targeted. They’re being ambushed, kidnapped, shot, bombed.

Most relief workers go into this profession with their eyes open (and with professional security training), and they believe their jobs are too important to yield to danger. For Christians, there’s an added incentive—to represent our loving and merciful God in a hostile world. That opportunity, to prove that love trumps hate, is one that I know many Christians are willing to die for, and tragically, some do. But if Christians don’t love their neighbors, who will?

This weekend, please join me in remembering these unsung heroes—people who have given their lives serving “the least of these” around the world.

Lately I’ve become dependent on my GPS navigation device for car trips. Mine has a male, British voice—I call him Hugh. I enter a starting location, then type in things like “avoid freeways” or “shortest distance.” Hugh even helps me schedule stops along the way, such as restaurants and sightseeing attractions. But it’s the destination that’s most important to enter into the GPS—where do I want to end up?

The same principle applies in your life journey. If your destination is success, measured by career achievements and wealth, the driving directions that will get you there might look at this:

• Become a workaholic
• Stay on the highway at all costs
• Avoid costly detours like family, friends, relationships, and service to others
• Value money over people
• Turn off your moral compass

For followers of Christ, there’s a destination that summarizes the two greatest commandments in the Bible: love God and love your neighbor as yourself. These driving directions might include:

• Take detours when someone needs your help
• Pay more attention to your moral compass than your bank balance
• Get off the highway for parent/teacher conferences, clarinet recitals, and soccer games
• Invest your time, talent, and treasure in enriching others’ lives
• Take the scenic route, even though it’s slower and has more potholes

Joining World Vision was a major recalibration in my journey. I had to get off the career highway, quit a job I worked 25 years to get, and take a cut in pay. Some of my former corporate colleagues think I’ve gotten badly off track. But actually, I haven’t. My life goal—my destination—has always been to love God and love my neighbor.

What’s your destination? Are you open to the twists and turns that might take you there?

It’s finals week for my daughter Hannah at Pepperdine University’s law school. Once her hectic term ends, instead of enjoying a carefree summer, she’s going to Uganda for a legal internship with International Justice Mission.

Hannah Stearns

Echoes of the past: On my first date with Reneé, when we were both in college, she told me she wanted to become a lawyer and help the poor with their legal problems. Me, I was headed straight for a career in business, hoping to make a lot of money. I’m glad Hannah’s taking after her mother in this respect.

By the time we started a family, though, Reneé and I were on the same page, and we wanted to raise our children to be compassionate. That’s no easy thing—there’s no “Dummies” book on it. Like everything else in parenting, modeling is important—living out your priorities. Reneé and I have included our children as stakeholders in our charitable giving, sitting down as a family each year to choose which individuals, organizations, and church needs we would support, using Monopoly money to allocate amounts.

When I became president of World Vision, I had the opportunity to bring all of my children on trips with me to the developing world, including Hannah to Uganda in 2006. Not all parents can do this, I understand. But poverty is seldom far away—families can volunteer at soup kitchens or homeless shelters or go on a short-term missions trip with their church.

Children seem wide-open to caring for others. I’ve heard so many examples lately about kids giving enthusiastically to Haiti’s earthquake survivors, families affected by AIDS, and other urgent needs. God’s already working in their hearts; it’s up to us as parents to develop this.

How are you encouraging your children’s compassion?

I’ve been watching the news about the terrible flooding in Tennessee. World Vision has a team based in Nashville, and many of my friends from Thomas Nelson publishing live there, so I’m praying for them.

I’ve never experienced a natural disaster myself, but I’m sure it’s agonizing to fear for loved ones and disturbing to see your home and possessions damaged or even swept away. Still, many affected families will eventually rebound through insurance and government assistance—the safety net we can rely on as Americans.

In my travels in the developing world, especially to places affected by natural disasters or war, I’ve noticed a key difference between myself and the poor: I am accustomed to feeling a sense of control over my circumstances. Perhaps it’s my economic situation, my job security, or my education, but I tend to think I can handle what life throws at me. And if I can’t, my safety net will be there. People living in chronic poverty have no illusions about control. Day-to-day they struggle along, with nothing to catch them when they fall.

As hopeless as that sounds, there’s an upside: It strengthens their faith. They must depend on God. Every day, their faith is renewed.

Here in our wealthy country, it often takes a drastic experience to put us in that position. We often need to be literally at our wits’ end to give up control and give it to God.

The reality is, we are dependent every day—every minute—on God for our every breath. How would it change us if we lived that way?

As I travel and speak around the country, I continue to be humbled by the impact my book is having on individuals and churches. So many people have shared with me the difference it has made in their lives—some of them even quitting jobs and going into the mission field, others becoming engaged in a local ministry in a new and deeper way. One man even told me he had given my book to his da­­­d, a tough-minded CEO who was skeptical about Christianity, and it has enabled them to open a new dialogue about faith.

Whole churches are reading the book together or in small groups and then taking steps to go deeper in their commitment to justice and compassion. Just this past Sunday, I was touched when a mentally challenged woman came up to me after I had preached and handed me $1 to help feed hungry children—the “widow’s mite” in action! I believe that that God is using the book to penetrate the hearts of His people in ways I could never have predicted.

That’s why I’m excited about the “new and improved” paperback version of The Hole in Our Gospel coming soon to a store near you next week. In addition to the budget-friendly price and lighter heft (better for beach reading), there are 48 pages of brand-new content in response to the most frequent questions asked by readers. Here’s what’s new:

1. Photos. See many of the places I’ve been, some of the people I write about, my five kids—and what Reneé and I looked like in our college-sweetheart days.

2. Q&A with Reneé. Finally, her side of the story: What’s it really like to put up with me? Actually, people often ask me what Reneé thinks about this book, about the changes in our lives since we came to World Vision, and what she’s passionate about. So here it is, in her own words.

3. Ways to act on your faith. This is in response to the biggest question I’ve heard from readers: “What do I do now?” If my book touched off a desire in you to act, there are many things you can do—large and small, today or in the future—to answer God’s call. I’ve devoted 13 pages to ideas for helping the poor in a variety of ways, including learning, praying, and speaking out.

4. Can poverty be defeated? Well, it’s not a simple answer—nor is the solution simple. But I speak to how World Vision fights this age-old adversary and why we believe we’re winning the battle.

5. Scriptural index. How many times do I reference Luke chapter 4 or Matthew 25? Also, a new general index helps you quickly find topics (education, water, HIV and AIDS, etc.) and notable names like Jimmy Carter, Bill Hybels, or Bono.

I’m deeply grateful that this new edition will allow an even larger audience to ponder the question, “What does God expect of me?”—and then take a step to join the revolution.

I don’t like mosquitoes. Who does? I hear their buzz. I swat them away. I get bitten. I scratch. But in the end, I don’t like mosquitoes because I’m mildly annoyed by them, rather than because their bite is a matter of life and death.

For millions of children around the world, a mosquito is the deadliest predator around. The malaria-causing parasite that mosquitoes carry kills more children than HIV and AIDS. Since you started reading this blog entry, another child has died of malaria. By day’s end, 2,000 more children will succumb.

No one dies of malaria in the U.S. anymore; it was wiped out by 1950, thanks to widespread DDT spraying. But imagine if malaria were killing 2,000 children in the United States every day—would we be taking urgent and tangible action to change that?

World Malaria Day is Sunday, April 25. The good news about malaria is that it’s easy and inexpensive to prevent with bed nets and to treat with medicines. But like so many of the challenges of the poor—they suffer simply because they lack access to these simple tools.

World Vision is working in many countries to change that. Thanks to generous donors, we give insecticide-treated bed nets to families, and we stock clinics with malaria-fighting medicines. What can you do? Check out www.endmalaria.org for ideas.

This week marked the three-month anniversary of the devastating January 12th Haiti earthquake. It’s been on my mind all week, especially as I reflect on being there during the aftermath.

On January 19th, I was in a hospital in Haiti helping deliver medical supplies—one week to the moment after the quake—when suddenly, staff and volunteers fell to their knees singing “Amazing Grace,” and praying to God. I was profoundly moved, and dropped to my knees to join them. I later learned that these faithful Christians had been doing this every day since the quake.

These moments were part of their lives, just as my experiences there have become a part of mine. I can’t forget the heartbreaking scenes of destruction. It felt like I was walking through a war zone, with all the carnage and pain and grief that comes with it. But I can’t forget those prayers that filled that  hospital.

I’m thankful World Vision has been working in Haiti for three decades. That presence enabled us to respond within hours of the disaster. We have 1,000 local staff caring for children and their families throughout the country.

So where are we now, three months on? Gifts from generous donors and partners have helped us distribute food to more than 1.5 million people, along with practical items like blankets, tents, and mosquito nets to more than 100,000 people. But that is just the beginning.

As Haiti headlines diminish, and the urgency of the response wanes, World Vision will continue walking with the people of Haiti, and we will remain committed to restoring hopes, lives and dreams.

What’s next? Please pray; that’s one need that will never diminish. And find out more about how you can continue standing with the people of Haiti.

It’s my birthday week. I’m not big on birthdays, and for reasons I won’t disclose, this is the last one I intend to recognize. But I did enjoy a surprise celebration on Wednesday, courtesy of the Women of Vision group in Fairfield, Conn., to whom I was speaking that night.

Do you ever wonder why birthdays are about us? Shouldn’t they be about our mothers, who did all the work to bring us into the world? Certainly they should be about our heavenly Father, who knit us together in the womb.

Recently I heard about a little girl in California who knows, with wisdom beyond her years, what birthdays can be about. Kara Bradley turned 11 in late January. A few weeks before the big day, she was home sick with the flu, watching TV news about the devastating Haiti earthquake. She decided she didn’t need any presents and asked her party guests to donate to World Vision’s Haiti relief effort instead. She raised $2,000!

Now there’s an idea. What if we all used our birthdays to celebrate the fact that God gave us this one life—for a purpose?

Easter is a glorious day, no matter which church you attend. It’s an occasion of unbridled joy and “alleluias” for our Savior, who rose from the dead to assure our eternal salvation.

And yet, this year my celebration is tempered somewhat by recent events—earthquakes, suffering, and violence—as I think about how the message of Easter speaks to them.

Yes, Christ offers us life in abundance—but we aren’t promised a bed of roses. We are called to suffer as Christ suffered. Look at the 12 disciples; ultimately, they were victims of violence. Ten were martyred and the other, John, was exiled to the island of Patmos, where he died a prisoner.

Yes, there will be losses, sacrifices, in this life. And that is the irony of God in Christ: The most powerful Creator of the universe chose suffering and death to demonstrate love.

Despite the terrible things that can and do happen, it’s important to remember that we do not serve a distant, detached God. The One we follow suffered for us and with us. Our identification is with Christ’s suffering.

Christ has gone before us and defeated the darkness, providing light and life. His sacrifice gives us lasting hope, undiminished by our trials. Yes, that’s the message of Easter. Alleluia!

With the recent attack on our staff in Pakistan and the Haiti and Chile earthquakes come a reminder that there is evil in the world. These events also remind us that the answer to evil—to violence—is love.

Love is more powerful than hate. Light is more powerful than darkness. Good is more powerful than evil.

The story of Palm Sunday and Easter is that in going to the cross, Jesus became the victim of all hatred and evil—yet He defeated it through His love. Love defeats hate. Good defeats evil.

World Vision exists to demonstrate to the world that there is a different way. A way of mutual respect. A way of compassion, justice, integrity, and righteousness.

We are building bridges, not blowing up bridges.

You can look to heroes like Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr. and see that the way of nonviolent demonstration—the way of compassion, concern, and peace—ultimately wins.

How often do you tell someone, “I’ll pray for you”? Have you noticed that once you commit to this, you start thinking a lot about the person, and you want to do more?

It happened to a church I know—with remarkable results. Lake Grove Presbyterian Church in Lake Oswego, Ore., has been a vital partner with World Vision since 1994, forging deep relationships with communities in Senegal and Zambia, sponsoring more than 500 children, and giving faithfully to World Vision relief efforts during emergencies. And it all started with prayer.

In 1994, a World Vision worker visited Lake Grove and spoke about an unreached people group in Senegal, the Wolof , and encouraged prayer for them. Pastor Bob Sanders and others at Lake Grove did so. But then they wanted to get to know the Wolof, so a team traveled to Senegal, where the people’s desperate need for clean water galvanized the congregation to raise money for wells.

More than water flowed from that first visit. A friendship developed between the congregation and 16 Senegalese villages—who later organized themselves as “Lake Grove Land”—built on frequent visits and energetic church-wide participation. Working through World Vision, the church funded education, health programs, and microenterprise initiatives for the Muslim villagers. Lake Grove showed the Wolof what Christ’s love looks like. They also teamed up with a Senegalese pastor who was planting a Christian church among the Wolof.

Fifteen years later, with Lake Grove Land achieving self-sufficiency, the church is focusing on helping communities in AIDS-ravaged Zambia. They’ve also supported relief work in Haiti as well as many previous crises. Lake Grove—where I had the privilege to speak last weekend—is a church practicing the whole gospel.

If your church wants to start somewhere with a missions focus, why not try choosing one country, one community, and just start praying? God will take it from there. And like Lake Grove, you’ll never be the same.

I still struggle to understand what kind of twisted worldview allows for the casual killing of so many innocent people for any reason. Ironically, on Tuesday, just as these attacks were occurring, I was making my final report for the President’s Council on Faith Based and Neighborhood Partnerships in Washington, D.C., to administration officials. In describing the NGO community I noted that “not insignificant is the reality that each year, our community of aid workers loses staff members to violence”—something very few other non-profits ever face. The next day, after the tragedy became public, President Barack Obama has also passed along his condolences to us through his senior staffers.

I returned to Seattle Wednesday and immediately walked into our weekly chapel, which had been quickly re-purposed as a prayer meeting for our staff in Pakistan and the families of our fallen coworkers. Words do not express the shock and horror of what happened. We live in perilous times, and yet all of us at World Vision believe that our work offers a powerful alternative to violence and hatred. Jesus’ simple command to “love our neighbors as ourselves,” continues to motivate us. In the end, love will win more battles than violence, and so we continue our work to love our neighbors—even those who choose to hate us.

Why did the earthquake that struck Chile early Saturday morning—500 times more powerful than Haiti’s earthquake seven weeks ago—cause so much less death and destruction? Why are the people of Haiti mourning 200,000 dead, while the death toll in Chile likely will not exceed 1,000?

The media has consulted plenty of experts to attempt to explain why. CNN featured Dr. Colin Stark of the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory at Columbia University. “Poverty is what ultimately kills most people during an earthquake,” he writes.

Dr. Stark gets it.

More than half the population in Haiti lives on less than $1 a day; the average annual income is $1,300. Nearly one-quarter of Haitian children suffer from malnutrition. Only half of Haitians over the age of 15 can read and write, and less than 30 percent reach the sixth grade.

Chile has a literacy rate greater than 95 percent among its residents over age 15. Boys and girls, on average, are in school 14 years. In addition, only 2 percent of Chile’s people are living on less than $2 a day; the average Chilean earns nearly $15,000 annually.

As I said in an op-ed earlier this week in the Seattle Times, both earthquakes have brought immeasurable tragedy in people’s lives. I visited Port-au-Prince a few days following the earthquake, and I met many individuals whose lives were changed forever. I left four days later with a mixture of sadness and anger, the latter because most of the deaths would have been prevented—if Haiti hadn’t been so very poor.

In the aftermath of these tragedies, Chile will need support, but Haiti will need intensive investment, not for months, but years.

World Vision has made a long-term commitment to walking alongside Haitians as they renew and revive their country. What is God calling you to do over the long haul for the poor?

My speech to hundreds of Christian college and university presidents on Wednesday was old news. Centuries old: How do we challenge young people to love the world that Christ died for?

On Wednesday evening, I delivered the opening keynote at the International Forum on Christian Higher Education in Atlanta, hosted by the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities. Preceding my speech, Bishop Desmond Tutu said in a videotaped greeting, “Your institutions exist to raise up servant leaders—a generation committed to justice and mercy—the next generation of salt and light in the world.”

University presidents will influence 1 million Christian young people graduating over the next decade. Many of these schools are already committed to equipping their students for service.

I challenged them to do more—starting with believing their students can change the world. Christ asks no less. He invites us to be change agents, “salt and light”—preservers of good and dispellers of darkness.”

What does that mean today? It means challenging racism and ethnic hatred wherever we find it. It means offering hope to homeless Haitians. It means entering the stench of the refugee camps in Darfur; rescuing girls forced into brothels in Cambodia; and ministering to the millions dying from AIDS in Africa. It means challenging preventable diseases that kill 25,000 children worldwide each day.

It’s tempting for graduates to enter fields such as business, medicine, and law and live safe, insulated lives. But there’s so much at stake in our world, and this generation has unprecedented opportunities to tackle it. More importantly, Jesus poured Himself out for the world, and His love empowers us to do the same.

How are you praying for the young people in your life? How can we encourage them to lead passionate lives that embrace Christ’s revolutionary movement to change the world?

We can’t miss the countdown to Christmas, especially the ubiquitous ads reminding us how many shopping days are left. But our culture pays little attention to the lead-up to Easter. The biggest signs, Mardi Gras and marshmallow Peeps, have nothing to do with what we Christians celebrate on this amazing day.

Easter celebrates the central belief of our faith—that Christ conquered death so that we might live. This deserves some contemplation. Many denominations achieve this through Lent, 40 days of preparation for Easter. This year’s Lent season started on Wednesday of this week.

What does Lent mean to you? Giving up chocolate or caffeine? Or is it a special time for you?

Last Sunday I spoke at Marine View Presbyterian Church in Tacoma, Wash. The congregation is fired up to focus their Lent observance on The Hole in Our Gospel Six-Week Quest, an interactive study based on my book. Thirty small groups are working through the curriculum and DVD. The Gospel Quest turns the major themes of The Hole in Our Gospel into a visually engaging, what-will-you-do-about-it call to understand how our individual salvation gives us new life—and draws us into God’s mission of redemption and justice for the whole world.

Lent is a good time to prepare not just for Christ’s resurrection but for God’s call on your life. And the Gospel Quest is a good tool to help you do that.

As it turns out, Lent is about giving something up: ourselves. Easter can be an opportunity to dedicate all of ourselves to Christ, to live as ambassadors for Him—right here, right now, in a world that desperately needs Him.

What are you doing to prepare your heart and our world for Easter’s miraculous message?

Flowers. Candy. Greeting cards. Last year, American consumers spent more than $17 billion on Valentine’s Day, according to the National Retail Federation. Men spend an average of $163, while women spend an average of $85. (Who said chivalry is dead?)

I do have plans on Valentine’s Day to show my wife that I love her. One of the reasons why I love her is because we share in a bigger love story: “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth” (I John 3:16-18).

Christ showed us a different kind of love—one in which you pour yourself out without expecting anything back. There’s plenty of need for that in our world, with more than 1 billion people living on less than a dollar a day and 25,000 children who die every day in ways we could help prevent.

Child sponsors are part of God’s love story. For only about $1 a day (less than the cost of a rose on Valentine’s Day!), sponsors show that God cares for children in tangible ways. And the children know it for what it really is: love.

“My sponsor’s name is Dan; he is a wonderful father and he means a lot to me because he loves me so much. That’s why he has done so much for me,” says Pathias, 12, a sponsored child in Zambia who lost his father to AIDS and lives with HIV himself.

“You’re my inspiration,” writes Sheen Mae, 16, from the Philippines, to her sponsor. “I treasure your love. I wish you could feel my happiness and see my smiles. Thank you.”

What’s your sponsorship love story? Or what are the ways you love “with actions and in truth”?

I’ve been touched by Americans’ big-hearted response to the earthquake in Haiti, especially the tremendous concern for children who lost family members in the disaster. The impulse to do something to lessen these children’s suffering is a beautiful thing.

One question I began hearing a lot early on was about whether adopting Haitian children is a solution. This issue arose when I was in Haiti. I did an interview about it with MSNBC on the roof of a Port-au-Prince hotel, while strong winds and passing helicopters threatened to blow over the video tent—quite a wild experience. Trying to focus, I expressed the position of World Vision and other organizations against rushed international adoptions (other than adoptions that were already in progress before the earthquake).

Past experience informs us that the chaotic period following a major disaster is when children are most vulnerable to exploitation and trafficking. Haiti’s earthquake struck at the end of the work day when many children were not with their parents. It will take time to sort out which children are orphans and which are merely lost or separated from family. The best course of action now is to keep children in their home country and protect those who seem to be on their own while working to locate any surviving relatives.

People who yearn to rescue children from the midst of devastation do have wonderful intentions. They want to provide these children with a new start in a good home. It seems like the right thing to do. But the right thing at the wrong time can have unintended consequences. And we should take care to spare Haitian children any further pain. Find more information here, and please continue to pray for Haiti’s children.

Since the devastating earthquake in Haiti, who of us has not asked the question, “Where was God?” The sudden deaths of so many innocent people and the staggering human suffering that persists seem to mock the very notion of a loving God. Where is God in Haiti?

There was another time that God was mocked in the face of suffering and evil. It happened on Calvary as Jesus Christ, God’s own son, was spat upon, beaten, and hanged on a cross. And people asked, where was God then? If he was God, why didn’t he save himself?

God had another way. On that cross, Jesus faced all the evil that ever was or ever would be. He took upon himself the sins of mankind, the evils of injustice, the pain of suffering and loss, the brokenness of the world. He felt every pain and took every punishment for every person who would ever live.

Where is God in Haiti? Christ is not distant from us in our times of suffering. He lies crushed under the weight of concrete walls. He lies wounded in the street with his legs broken. He walks homeless and hungry through the camps. He weeps uncontrollably over the child he has lost.

Where is God in Haiti? He hangs bloody on the cross: “A man of sorrows, and familiar with our suffering” (Isaiah 53:3).

“But where is hope?” we might ask. Here, alas, we need to see something not easily seen from human perspective. We, not God, are trapped in time. We, not God, see only in part and cannot yet see the whole. We, not God, must wait for that day when “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away” (Revelation 21:4).

What then must we do? Unlike God, we live in the time between the already and not yet, and we must wait until then. Until then, we are commanded to love our neighbors as ourselves. Until then, we are called to comfort the afflicted; give food to the hungry and water to the thirsty. Until then, we are to shelter the homeless, clothe the naked, and grieve with the grieving. Until then, we are to care for the widow, the orphan, the alien, and the stranger.

We are to let our light so shine before others that they might see our good deeds and give glory to our Father in heaven. Until then, as the apostle Paul wrote, “We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors … as though God were making his appeal through us” (2 Corinthians 5:20). Until then, we must show forth God’s deep love for Haiti.

I’m back in Seattle after last week’s whirlwind: four days in Haiti, then a busy day in Miami talking with donors, media, and congressional staff. To those of you who prayed for me, thank you—I felt those prayers.

Images of what I saw in Haiti keep replaying in my mind, as the plea I heard over and over echoes: “Don’t forget us.” That’s my fear, too—when the media spotlight turns off, what happens to Haiti’s suffering people? Their nightmare is ongoing—I got to wake up and leave.

In Miami, I met a Haitian cabdriver who was understandably heartbroken over his country’s devastation. He’s convinced that the international community must take over the rebuilding process for it to succeed. I think he’s right. This earthquake struck Haiti at its heart, affecting at least a third of the population, so it’s unlikely that the country will be able to recover by itself.

Last week, I was so moved to be among World Vision’s hardworking team on the ground in Haiti, people from many nations working together around the clock. For nearly two weeks, they have been carrying out distributions of food, water, medical supplies, and shelter supplies, and now they are setting up “Child-Friendly Spaces,” safe zones for children to play. Soon they will draw up plans, in coordination with other nongovernmental organizations, for how World Vision will participate in long-term recovery.

Soon, the Super Bowl, the Olympics, and the latest political news will dominate our attention. But please don’t let yourself move on to “business as usual.” Find a photo of a Haitian child and post it where you can see it often. Pray daily. Continue to give to your favorite charity.

As Kim Hjelm commented on my Facebook page “This is not just a reaction to an event … this is a new way of living. I will be part of the marathon relay team that will continue to help for years to come.” So will World Vision. Please join us!

This morning I woke up in a bed and had a shower, albeit a cold one. Ordinarily these developments wouldn’t rate a mention, but here in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, I’m one of the lucky ones. Up to 2 million people are homeless, sleeping out in the street, with limited clean water.

We can’t do anything more for the dead, but it’s imperative we help survivors who have lost everything—and time’s running out. Crowds of people packed into makeshift tent communities set the scene for the spread of diseases like cholera. People need food, water, hygiene.

But today, help arrived. World Vision distributed food from the U.S. government to 500 families in Port-au-Prince. The rations included lentils, bulgur, corn-soy blend, and oil—not gourmet, but life-giving. There were some tense moments as desperate people crowded the truck. But we managed to keep control, and people got food.

The first man to receive his rations looked at me and saw “World Vision” on my shirt. He smiled and said, “Thank you.” I want to pass those words along to many of you who have given generously to Haiti emergency relief. Millions of dollars have poured in at World Vision. We will use those gifts wisely over the weeks, months, and years it will take Haiti to recover from this disaster.

People will rebound, and I’ve seen small signs of this already: children laughed and danced; street vendors began to sell their wares again. Haitians are resilient, having gone through so much in the past. Their spirit amazes and inspires me.

My first day in Haiti was an overwhelming mix of surreal images, turbulent emotions, and uplifting moments. I’m still trying to make sense of it.

Driving through Port-au-Prince from the airport, the city’s devastation was unbelievable, almost apocalyptic. Imagine if our White House, plus the Capitol building, the National Cathedral, the Supreme Court, and the police headquarters in Washington, D.C., collapsed. Hard to get your head around that, isn’t it? That’s Haiti’s reality. In mere seconds, the earthquake changed the capital city forever.

I visited one of Port-au-Prince’s struggling, overburdened hospitals to help distribute medical supplies. It looked like a war zone. There were wounded people crowding the courtyards and hallways, with doctors and nurses working feverishly to treat them. As shocking as it was, I was told that this was a vast improvement from last week, when the parking lot was littered with corpses.

The hospital staff were happy to receive the medical supplies, as they’d run out of even the most basic items. A human chain formed to unload supplies from the truck to the hospital storeroom — volunteers passing boxes of antibiotics, tetanus shots, and gauze.

Then, at 4:45 p.m., the time when the earthquake struck exactly a week earlier, everybody fell to their knees and prayed and praised God. People sang “Amazing Grace” and “How Great Thou Art” in French and English.

What an unforgettable moment. That people can praise God in the midst of such suffering is a tremendous testimony to the power of God in Haiti.

May this encourage you, as you pray. God’s hand is on this broken country and its grieving, wounded people. God is moving among those who are here to help. God is here.

As you read this, I will just be getting my bearings in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, a place brought low by poverty—then crushed by last week’s earthquake.

On the way over, I was pretty apprehensive. The closest I’ve been to a major disaster was the Asia tsunami. I visited affected countries a few months after the crisis, and although the grief there was still fresh, stability and order reigned. In Haiti, I don’t know what to expect. The situation on the ground is highly fluid.

I hope to convey a simple message to suffering families—that World Vision, faithful donors, and the international community are all ready to help them as they climb from the rubble and rebuild their lives. World Vision has worked in Haiti for 30 years, and we’re not going anywhere. We will help communities recover over the coming months and years.

Please continue to pray for Haitian families who are grieving, for children separated from their parents, for exhausted relief workers toiling around the clock. I’ll write when I can to share what I see and experience.

I’m sure you are seeing the news about the devastating earthquake in Haiti—and like me, praying for the thousands of people left injured and homeless.

With more than 300 World Vision staff on the ground in Haiti, I’m also concerned for colleagues. There were some tense moments Tuesday night when we heard that the national director in our office in Port-au-Prince, an American named Frank Williams, could not locate his wife and two daughters. By Wednesday morning, we learned they were safe—praise God!

I fear the news will not be so good for Haitian families who were already struggling in this poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. These are the people “caught in the web” of poverty’s harshest problems—the last thing they needed was to lose loved ones, homes, jobs, hope.

And yet, Haiti is loved by Christians. There’s a significant presence of Christian organizations and mission agencies in the country, and many U.S. churches send volunteers and short-term mission teams there. Previously, nothing dampened these believers’ dedication to Haiti—not political unrest, high HIV infection rates, floods and hurricanes, or even spiritual darkness. Certainly they will now work even harder to help this beleaguered nation.

What’s your connection to Haiti? Are you or your church involved in an outreach there? Share about this in the comments section. And let’s all pray for each other—for churches, for missionaries, for World Vision’s relief efforts and those of other organizations, and for the many other brothers and sisters who just won’t give up on Haiti. Let’s commit to surround them all in prayer.

Have you noticed that the Christmas displays in stores have been replaced by sales on exercise equipment and self-improvement tools?

As we dive determinedly into our resolutions, how have you resolved to build up your faith muscles—not just your stomach muscles—this year?

I’m still surprised by the variety of people who have told me God has used this book to bolster their faith. From prominent executives at a reception hosted by Secretary of State Clinton last month to friends at a wedding just a few weeks before, people tell me God is using this book to challenge them to a renewed commitment to serving Christ in life and deed.

One of the most dramatic stories recently was from Steve Vines in Arizona. A little over a year ago, Steve had a six-figure salary, a Mercedes, and a Rolex. But his job was requiring a sacrifice of integrity that he couldn’t make. He quit to open what he hoped would be a lucrative consulting business with a small non-profit on the side. But when the consulting contracts didn’t materialize, Steve said, “I read the book and, for all intents and purposes, gave up the dream. Instead of working 80 hours a week, I’m going to work 35, and put God where he should’ve been all along.”

Beyond his job that merely “pays the bills,” his non-profit is wildly successful. In Pakistan, Steve worked with local Christians to start a sewing school that offers young women a safe and dignified way to earn a living. He also distributed 15,000 meals to the poor and homeless at Christmas, and he’s now working on opening another school.

How is God calling you to act out your faith this year? It doesn’t have to be as dramatic as Steve’s story. But could this be your time to take action?

Will you set a New Year’s resolution this year? Or several? Maybe shoot for “10 goals in 2010”?

Sounds good, but I’ve noticed—based on personal experience—that resolutions often don’t work because we seem to put more energy into making them than in carrying them out. We often want different results in our lives, but we aren’t willing to make the necessary changes.

But whatever your goal, there’s always something you can do, from a small step to a big move. If you want to lose weight, for instance, you can give up your nightly bowl of ice cream—that’s fairly easy, right? Or you can sign up for “The Biggest Loser.” You just have to know what you’re ready and willing to do.

If your goal is to do more to serve God and love your neighbor, the same principle applies. You already have what you need: a willing heart. Now, you just need to take a step. “God can’t steer a parked car,” to quote my former pastor.

To get you started, here are some examples of big and small things you can do this year to fight poverty:

Simple: Buy a world map and post it where you will see it frequently, find countries mentioned in the news, and pray for people affected by dire poverty, war, or natural disaster.
Advanced: Look into how you can leave your favorite charity in your will.

Simple: Volunteer for a few hours at a local soup kitchen, food bank, or AIDS hospice.
Advanced: Sign up for a short-term missions trip with your church or an organization like Youth With a Mission.

Simple: Use your Facebook profile to share a cause you’re passionate about with your friends.
Advanced: Organize an effort in your church, campus, or with friends to write letters to Congress advocating for increased government funding for poverty alleviation.

Hopefully, some of these ideas will spark an idea for you. If not, keep looking, talking to other Christian servants, and praying for God’s direction.

What will your resolutions be?

This is a time of year when we tell stories—the same stories, over and over again. There’s the one about Rudolph, the reindeer with the radioactive nose who becomes a hero on a foggy Christmas eve. There’s the cranky introvert, Scrooge, who made everybody miserable until a tag-team of ghosts scared him out of it. And let’s not forget the one about another cranky introvert, the Grinch, who tried to steal his neighbors’ holiday spirit.

These are fun tales, but the best story of all, of course, is the account of Christ’s birth. And as many times as I’ve heard it (let’s not do the math), some element of it always amazes me. I’m struck by the unlikely characters: the young, unmarried woman chosen to birth the Son of God; the shepherds, no education or social connections, chosen to be among the first to stand in His presence.

I’m struck by the setting—a place foretold in Scripture, but arranged through a census, of all things. And of course there’s the stable that becomes the makeshift birthing room. Mothers, can you imagine delivering your first baby on a bed of straw?

All of these details tell us something about Jesus. He arrived among us in the humblest of ways, promising from the very start His affinity with the poor, the homeless, the persecuted, the “left out.” He chose people without the right sort of résumés to play a role in His birth—telling us that any of us can love and serve Him. He turned our whole notion of what a king is by coming not to conquer people, but to conquer sin.

The Christmas Story is also our story. We are the same “weary world rejoicing” at our Savior’s birth. The thrill of that day long ago becomes tangible to us right now. This Christmas, may you feel fresh exuberance in the coming of Jesus—and your heart filled to the brim with His life-changing presence.

Ask a child what he or she wants for Christmas, and most have a specific (and long) list. I hear that the sold-out toy this year is an electric hamster.

Jacob, an 8-year-old boy from California, wrote to World Vision about the list he made this Christmas—a special kind of list. Jacob sponsors a child in Bangladesh. After receiving the World Vision gift catalog, Jacob told us, “I wrote down the animals I wanted to buy. I asked mom if she would go with me around the block to collect donations.”

Jacob’s mom, Kimberly, said she was hesitant for Jacob to ask neighbors for donations, but, “If God put this on his heart, I can’t stop him.” She didn’t think they’d get much. She watched on the sidewalk while Jacob went up to the door. He told them about World Vision and the special animals he’d selected from the catalog.

Jacob collected $1,875.

As parents, we want our kids to have a heart for giving, and a heart for being grateful for what they are given. One of the greatest joys of working at World Vision is to see how God gives our donors a desire to give to the poor. It’s what God did long ago in my heart, and I see it everyday in our donors, whether they have the means to give a few dollars or a million.

What does your Christmas list look like? If you are still looking for meaningful gifts, check out our gift catalog at www.worldvisiongifts.org.

Do you ever get frustrated by holiday commercialism? If you’re like me, you might struggle to keep your focus on the true spirit of Christmas.

World Vision sent a small team around the world last month with a mission: If we believe that Christmas is more about Christ’s presence than presents, could we find examples of that?

In Cambodia last week, our team met Leap, a 14-year-old who ran away from an abusive family and was living on dangerous streets before he came to the World Vision center for street children. Leap described how his life changed: “I have enough food to eat; I have clothes; I have everything that I want, especially education.”

What Leap received went much deeper. Motivated by our faith in Jesus Christ, World Vision serves alongside the poor and oppressed as a demonstration of God’s unconditional love for all people. We hope the depth of our faith is evident in our lives, words, and deeds. At the center, the teacher’s Christian faith influenced Leap. “I started to believe that Jesus created the earth and sky and even me,” he said. “[Now], because I believe in Jesus, He’s the one who guides me though all of the hard life.”

To borrow an advertising phrase, what Leap received is priceless. Have you noticed that the best gifts you’ve given (and received) at Christmas have nothing to do with how much they cost, but with how much they mean? Have you ever given a gift that changed someone’s life?

There is still time to celebrate the true spirit of Christmas. What kind of Christmas will you have this year? How can the gifts you give reflect a Christ-centered Christmas?

P.S. Follow the True Spirit of Christmas tour through Ecuador, Cambodia, and Zambia on Facebook (find stories, photos, and videos under the Notes tab). The team heads to Ethiopia next week. And you can find the type of life-changing gifts that Leap received at www.worldvisiongifts.org.

Here we are in the peak shopping season of the year. How long is your list?

I’m trying to approach things differently this year, tough as it is in our consumer culture. A few months ago, Reneé and I had a clean-a-thon after our youngest child left for college. We emptied the attic, closets, and garage, gathering up an astounding volume of stuff we no longer needed. Our Prius looked a bit like the Grinch’s fully loaded sleigh as we headed to Goodwill. There were eight cars—perhaps other empty-nesters?—in line ahead of us at the drop-off.

Afterward, we drove on to Costco. Yes, I need more stuff (pants for an upcoming trip). I missed the irony in this until I saw people mobbing the checkout with carts loaded to the brim. Then it hit me: We have things we just don’t need, yet we continue to buy more all the time.

This would be funny if everybody in the world lived in abundance, but—as I know better than most—that’s not the case. Tragically, many have only the clothes on their backs.

How do we cure this insatiable desire for more stuff? I don’t have any magic answers. My family struggles with this as well. Perhaps it begins with reordering our priorities and paying attention to the disparity between us and the “have-nots” in our world—those Jesus called “the least of these.” I sometimes wonder if I should write, “What would Jesus do?” on the inside of my wallet or on the front of my credit cards.

A great alternative at Christmas is the World Vision Gift Catalog. You can honor friends and family by giving things like goats, clothing, fruit trees, and Bibles to the poor. These gifts address “needs” rather than “wants”—and they won’t end up someday at Goodwill. (See how these gifts are used by following the “Spirit of Christmas Tour” on Facebook.)

Have you given through World Vision’s Gift Catalog? What did you choose, for whom, and how was it received?

It seems like a day doesn’t go by without a reference in the news about the latest scare: the H1N1 or “swine flu” virus. I understand people’s fear; this virus can be deadly. But it reminds me of the alarm raised a few years ago over the avian flu, feared to cause a global pandemic (it didn’t).

Meanwhile, the world’s worst global pandemic is still with us: AIDS. It’s still killing many more people than any flu; about 2 million people died of AIDS-related causes in 2007 compared to between 250,000 and 500,000 flu deaths worldwide. And while it is preventable, many of its victims can’t protect themselves—particularly the 740 children who die of AIDS every day.

These children likely contracted HIV from their mothers during pregnancy, childbirth, or through breastfeeding. Of all the things a mother wants to pass along, a deadly virus is nowhere on the list. And she doesn’t have to. In 1994, scientists developed drugs to reduce mother-to-child transmission.

I saw this myself in Zambia when I visited the Zamtan Prevention of Mother-to-Child HIV Transmission clinic, one of the most advanced AIDS centers in Zambia. Pregnant women and new mothers can access anti-retroviral therapy, safe delivery measures, and counseling on ways to reduce the risk of passing HIV to their babies—by 80 percent.

This life-saving clinic had an exciting connection to the U.S.—Chicago business owners Jim and Tedde Reid rallied about 30 others to raise $1.4 million to fund it.

World AIDS Day is Tuesday, December 1, and it’s a perfect opportunity to pray about AIDS—and act. If the Reids inspire you as they did me, make it a priority to do something.

One simple thing World Vision is advocating is to call your member of Congress and ask elected officials to keep their promise to provide $7.2 billion this year for AIDS prevention and care. Go here for more ideas on how to help innocent children on this World AIDS Day.

I’m looking forward to some pumpkin pie next week and a chance to reflect on my blessings: God’s grace, family and friends, good health, and meaningful work.

What makes you grateful? I’m not asking what you’re grateful for—but what does it take for us to feel grateful? And how does being grateful change you?

Earlier this week, Warren Watson posted his story on World Vision’s Gift Catalog Facebook page. After losing his job last October, he said, “I looked around my house and my life and knew that I lived better then 90 percent of the people/children around the world.” Rich in gratitude but not in funds, he invited people to help him purchase goats for people in need. He raised more than $2,000—enough for 32 goats!

Warren is still unemployed, and again this Christmas, he’s determined “to take a portion of the abundance that I have” and “forward it to those who have a real life need.”

That’s gratitude in action. That’s moving from thanks to giving.

Think about the parable of the talents in Matthew 25. What have you been given, five talents, two, or one? How many of us have been duped into thinking that we haven’t been given enough? A constant barrage of advertising messages tells us we’re always missing something that we need but don’t have.

Here’s a reality check: Plug your income into www.globalrichlist.com. Then search the Bible for what God has to say about the God-given responsibilities of the wealthy.

What would change in our lives if we truly acknowledged how much we’ve been given? How would a consistent perspective of gratitude change our lives, and our world? This Thanksgiving, how do we move from giving God thanks…to giving God everything?

Have you noticed that “love” is not just a noun for God? It’s a very personal verb. “For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only son” (John 3:16). “This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his son” (I John 4:10).

When God says, “For I, the Lord, love justice” (Isaiah 61:8), it comes after an amazing list of what justice—in action—means to God: good news for the poor; release for the oppressed; praise instead of despair; renewal for ruined cities; and other amazing proclamations.

At the Justice Revival happening this week in Dallas, churches and Christians across the city have caught the vision of living out God’s love—love as a verb. And as the conference wraps up, hundreds will head out to serve across the city, proclaiming “I love justice” with more than words, but “with actions and in truth” (I John 3:18).

What Justice Revival is doing is so important because loving justice is not an abstract concept for God—it means changes in individual lives, as well as the world.

For most of my life, loving God and loving justice meant believing the right things, living the right life. Coming to World Vision taught me the richness of loving as a personal verb. I’ve watched wells being drilled—the thirsty given water. I’ve seen the lame walk and the blind given back their sight. I’ve met disaster survivors praising where they were once despairing. I’ve seen widows comforted, orphans cared for, and children freed from slavery and abuse.

Loving justice is not a calling reserved for a subcategory of Christians. It is God’s heart, and so it must be ours.

Please pray for Justice Revival’s Day of Action in Dallas this weekend. In your city, how have you seen God’s love for justice in action? How can you be a part of it?

Last week the famed French anthropologist, Claude Lévi-Strauss, died at age 100. His very long obituary in The New York Times referred to his “imposing legacy” of literature and thought on world cultures.

Do you ever wonder what your obituary will say? Maybe a better question is: Do you ever think about what your legacy will be?

Two weeks ago, I spoke to a group of Christian university students at Harvard. Imagine the legacy possibilities in a gathering like that—future lawyers, doctors, CEOs, media moguls. And I was once just like them, as a student at Cornell, looking forward to a bright future of making lots of money.

In graduate school, I became a Christian, and I’d like to say that everything changed for me then. The seed was planted, but I continued my climb to corporate success, and only later did I realize the difference between career and calling.

God gave me the opportunity to plant a seed in the Harvard students, to remind them that for followers of Christ, there’s a greater end goal than a corner office. We are called to love Christ and love our neighbor.

As Ryan’s comment on last week’s blog noted, Christians and atheists both can be compassionate givers. But our call to love our neighbor is rooted in—and is a reflection of—serving Christ. We are called to be carriers of the gospel, bringing good news to a world that needs it, now more than ever. God has chosen me, those students, and you, to leave a legacy of compassion—an honor and a grave responsibility.

How are you living out your legacy? Are you pursuing a career or a calling—or both?

At the Harvard forum last week with Peter Singer, the influential ethicist and atheist, I was grateful for the opportunity to share with him and those gathered how God has changed my life.

We agreed that, as humans, we are essentially selfish. (Who can deny that?) We agreed that there is a spark of compassion in each of us that compels us to act. Where we respectfully differed was why.

Singer described giving as part of an “ethical life,” that people are much more likely to give when they see others giving and when they realize that it’s personally fulfilling. As a Christian, I added that giving away money is an unnatural act. Only God can make a change in someone’s heart that causes us to overcome our selfishness.

Our reasons differ, but Singer is advocating the same radical thought that Jesus did: That is, to ignore our neighbor’s need is wrong—for a Christian or an atheist.

Many of us are doing something. But compared to what we could do, is it enough? As we enter the main giving season of the year, will each of us—and the American church—heed the Holy Spirit’s urging to be intentional about our giving? Or will we succumb to selfishness or fear of further economic turmoil?

“Rich and I are trying to develop a culture where it should be unacceptable not to give to the poor,” said Singer. Do you think it could happen? Why do you give to the poor? And what will wake up the American church to really care about the poor—and act it?

Want to hear my dialogue with Peter Singer? Listen to the 90-minute audio here.

And, you can see a slideshow of images from the event.

Our books came out just days apart back in March. We drew from much of the same research. And we came to virtually the same conclusion: Now is the time to tackle global poverty and suffering—and it’s up to us to do it.

The main difference? Peter Singer approached his argument in The Life You Can Save from an ethicist (and atheist) point of view; I approached mine from a Christian perspective.

This afternoon, Peter Singer and I are appearing together at Harvard University to talk about our shared call to action. It’s compelling that there’s so much common ground between us, despite our divergent backgrounds. I’m looking forward to our exchange.

Some people might say that I shouldn’t engage with an avowed atheist who has liberal views. But global poverty is so staggering, the issues so urgent, that making a difference will take all of us. We don’t have to agree with each other’s philosophies to collaborate. I believe that people of good faith can work with those of good will to accomplish great things.

But what do you think? Can Christians work alongside the Peter Singers of the world? If so, how? What has been your experience of working with people of diverse viewpoints to fight poverty, locally or globally?

Next week I’ll write about the Harvard event. I’ll try to make a podcast available if you’d like to listen for yourself.

When Jesus said in Matthew 7, “By their fruit you will recognize them,” I doubt he was thinking about Washington state apple trees. But as Jesus goes on to describe, “every good tree bears good fruit,” that’s what this verse reminds me of—especially this time of year, when our world-famous apple crop comes to fruition.

Good works are the natural fruit of a vibrant faith. Not that our salvation depends on these works. It’s the life in the tree that produces the fruit, not the fruit that produces the life in the tree.

This past Sunday I spoke at Lighthouse Christian Church in Bellevue, Wash. It’s not big, but it has a big vision. Mobilized by their “Advent Conspiracy” campaign, the congregation assembled 500 kits for African AIDS caregivers, and they’re giving generously to Asia disaster relief. I’m honored that my book has helped them in these efforts.

Churches like Lighthouse bear good fruit because of the life of Christ within them. As an African pastor once told me, “A church that lives within its four walls is no church at all.”

So what does that mean for each of us and our churches? How is the life of Christ at work in us? Are we bearing good fruit? Spend some time in prayer about this, or ask God to help you expand your crop.

I’d also appreciate your prayers next week when I meet with acclaimed bioethics professor and atheist Peter Singer at Harvard on the topic of fighting global poverty. Our different perspectives on why we do this work should make for interesting discussion.

If you’ve been watching the news lately, you know that there’s a lot of suffering in the world just now: earthquakes rocking Indonesia; typhoons ravaging the Philippines and Vietnam; floodwaters deluging parts of India; a tsunami shattering American Samoa.

It makes me ask, Why, God?

But then I read Psalm 46:1-3: “God is our refuge and our strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.” Apt descriptions for our times. God knows such things shake us to the core. Yet He wants us to put our faith in Him—no matter what.

And if we do that, the question changes: What now, God?

I don’t think God wants any of this suffering. I don’t know why He allows it. But I do know He brings good out of bad.

What if the recent disasters present yet another opportunity to bring good news to the poor—to show the disbelieving how big our God is by helping to save the world He loves? We pray, sometimes every day, “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” But how do we live daily as kingdom-bearers, even when the earth seems to be revolting against us?

Let me hear from you. What’s your reaction to calamities? Are you overwhelmed, or do you feel more deeply convicted of your part in God’s plan?