Poverty Solution # 1 – People Who Care

The number one poverty solution for the Philippines that has to be considered is… People Who Care! That’s right. Without concerned and caring individuals who are willing to step up and do something about Philippine poverty, nothing will happen.

Pastor Gene and Estrella Reyes
On this website, you will find all kinds of poverty essays with (hopefully) all kinds of useful information that you can use to make a difference in this world. Although many of the stories are emotional, I also want to share some inspiring stories of success.

One of those stories is about my dear friend, Pastor Gene Reyes, and his wife, Estrella. And it demonstrates the most important poverty solution.

Pastor Gene and his wife have given their lives to lift children out of the bonds of poverty and neglect. Although they could be using the gifts that God gave them for their own success and financial well-being, they have instead chosen to share those gifts with orphaned, abused, and abandoned children living in the Philippines.

You can find all sorts of poverty essays filled with statistics that make you cry, but what the statistics don’t tell is the personal stories of sacrifice that others have made to help reduce the statistics.

Let me share just one example. Pastor Gene and Estrella have worked with a ministry which operates a children’s home. They also owned a very small and inexpensive house which they were going to sell for their daughter’s education expenses.

# 1 Poverty Solution - People Who Care
However, when the time came to sell the house, they used the money to purchase a jeepney to use for transporting the children and other ministry purposes instead. Mark this down: They sacrificed their own personal security to help children out of poverty.  And they are always eager to help short term missions Christian volunteers as well.

Each day, they spend the entire day cooking and cleaning and caring for over 40 children who have come from the most difficult circumstances… and they own basically nothing. Everything has been dedicated to the support and love for these Philippine children.

Do you know what will happen if people don't step up to be part of the solution? Nothing.

Folks, you can read all the poverty essays you want, but there is one poverty solution that is more important than any statistic. You have to be willing to do something to help.




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2 comments:

  2. Firstly, I wish your pastor friend and his wife all the best and success in their poverty work.

    However, while I believe that individuals are essential in poverty alleviation, I think institutions are also as important. It is important that solutions are sustainable and sacrificing personal security is not realistic nor smart, in my opinion.

    Putting volunteers' general well-being at risk could actually be counter-productive to the honorable work of relieving poverty.

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