Question:
Dear Greg,
I
have recently become financially able to give to charity following years of
being in a situation where this was impractical.
I want to make up for it now but need some guidance.
There are so many worthy causes and I have trouble deciding which ones to
give to. I need advice for sorting
this out.
God
bless,
Answer: Dear
You
are correct—there are many worthy causes.
Because you have come to the website of a Christian non-profit ministry,
I would like to make you aware of the need of Christian ministries.
But
first, to be fair, if your thoughts are open to all charities, then I would be
remiss if I did not tell you that there are many fine secular charities and
non-profits as well. If you include
them in your search, I would suggest that you consider their goals and mission
statements before giving. Check
their websites and request any literature that they provide concerning their
outreach and mission. Then I suggest
that you consider your own interests, the issues that touch your heart and that
might have been part of your experience—or that of your family and loved ones.
Consider those causes, for they are close to you.
Christian
ministries. There are many, just
like secular ones. Again, check what
they say about themselves. Check
what they believe, in terms of Christianity and the Bible (websites are great
for this, and if the information is not available on the web, web sites usually
offer to send it to you). Consider
their goals and outreach—and see how you identify with the work that they are
doing.
A
final thought. If you decided to
give a certain amount annually, perhaps you would be wise to divide that amount
among several ministries before settling on one or more that you will support.
We
would, of course, be delighted if you would include PTM in your considerations.
Please let us know if we can provide any literature or information toward
that end.
On
behalf of all non-profits and charities you will consider giving to, and the
people and causes they serve, thank you for thinking of the needs of others.
May God bless you as you make these decisions.
In
Christ,
Greg
Albrecht