The Unreported Stories

by | Nov 25, 2016 | missions | 0 comments

I am a news junkie. I enjoy keeping abreast of the day’s events, partly because I have friends around the world. Being aware gives me a better understanding of how to pray and how I might be proactive in my support of them.

My favorite journalist is Rex Murphy. I appreciate his blunt, rather pointed analysis of the events. He is articulate and doesn’t “sugar coat” his reporting. Though all have biases (it’s a fallacy for anyone to claim “biased-free” reporting), my opinion is that he is fair.

Murphy writes for National Post but I am a bit irritated, not at Murphy, but at two recent articles reporting on crises among the poor in Canada. One related to Attawapiskat and the other to the East side of Vancouver. Both relate to the tragic self-destruction by individuals, one through teen suicide and the other through addiction to fentanyl (blog to follow).

The National reported: “More than six months after a suicide crisis drew the world’s attention to Attawapiskat, there is still no promised youth centre or permanent mental-health workers. As winter begins to set in at the remote Cree community near James Bay, so does disillusionment among some young people who vowed to help bring change to their beleaguered community, but are still waiting for government promises to be fulfilled.” (Nov.11, 2016)

The implication is that little or nothing is being done to deal with this crisis, and it is a crisis.

But there is a story not reported by our secular media. Politicians, social workers and activists think they can parachute in with their promises of financial resources and help that will somehow offer hope. Then there are those who live among the people, such as Pastor Stoney, who offer hope and real-life solutions. As a young man, he walked personally through many of the tragic events that others are now experiencing. Then his life was changed by the power of Jesus Christ. His message and his life does not speak of hopelessness but deep compassion for the community he serves.

Then there are outside groups, such as Intercede International, who go beyond the rhetoric and have actively raised financial resources to provide a youth centre in Attawapiskat, a place where teens can go to find acceptance and help.

“If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,’ but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead” (James 2:15-17).

There will always be those who talk and do nothing. Then there are those who realize that talk is not enough and actively become part of the solution. Which group do you belong to?

Be informed! Make a difference!

Blessings!

Ministry addresses crisis in Attawapiskat

 

0 Comments

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Connect with Dave

Please know that I love to speak with my Father and to bring others before Him in prayer. I have this unfailing belief that He both hears and answers the prayers of His children.
Use the contact form to let me know how I might be of service to you.

Dave Griggs, MDiv

Share This