The Importance of Advocacy
by Amy Grigg, the Springdale Family Care Case Manager
“When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” Matthew 9:37-38
Jesus felt compassion! I am so very thankful for the fact that the God of the universe came to earth and experienced the very same things we experience every day. These verses come at the end of a chapter where Jesus had completely given himself to healing, teaching, and sharing the gospel of the Kingdom. He poured out to those around him, seeing that they were harassed and helpless. His solution to seeing this was to instruct his disciples to go to the Father in prayer and to ask specifically for workers.
In 2022, we don’t have to look far to see that multitudes are harassed and helpless. Jesus is “the same yesterday, today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8) which means that his solution in Matthew 9:37-38 is the same solution today. See the need, pray, and send or be sent.
Coming to work for Arkansas Baptist Children and Family Ministries has opened my eyes to the harassed and helpless right in front of me. I see that there are so many in our communities, attending my kids’ schools, shopping at my grocery store, and walking in my neighborhood who are hurting. In the church world, we rely on and surround each other during hard times. The families that come into the Desired Haven program come in because they have no one to rely on and no one to surround them.
YOU could be an answer to the prayer that Jesus taught us to pray. Advocacy is a way that you could reach a family with the love of Jesus by supporting, securing and staying with them. Every single day advocates are being the hands and feet of Jesus to those like He ministered to in Matthew 9.
Here are 2 examples of women we have worked with and how advocacy is reaching their hearts with the love of God.
“I really feel like God used this program to bring me the friend I needed. As cheesy as that sounds, I actually really mean it. My advocate has been a gift and an extension of God’s love and grace for my life. Crazy because she came at a time when I felt like I didn’t deserve to have a friend.”
“I am so blessed to have my advocate as I am going through all of these events in my life. She validates my feelings/thoughts without judgement, and with kind words and understanding. I feel comforted in her presence.”
Please consider becoming and advocate. For more information click here. https://arkansasfamilies.org/family-care-volunteer