by Julie Taylor

How do you get involved with social action? Let me explain through telling my story. For nine years, I directed a hunger education and action program called Harvest of Hope — part of the Society of St. Andrew’s ministry. Our programs introduced people to the reality of hunger in our world today, engaged people in a tangible effort to alleviate hunger, and enlisted people’s ongoing participation in hunger efforts.

The goal was to change lives by creating hunger advocates. One tool we used was a video called "Remember Me," produced by UNICEF. I must have watched the video more than a hundred times. It features ten children from impoverished communities around the world talking about their lives and dreams. One of the children, Luis Molina of Guatemala, shares the story of his family, who have been uprooted by an earthquake. For years, I listened to a line in the video that says, "Luis could not go to school because he had no shoes." I felt called to send shoes to Luis and children like him.

During my seventh year with Harvest of Hope, I had a new thought about these words. It finally occurred to me to question why Luis needed shoes to go to school. What do shoes have to do with a child’s ability to learn? In that moment, I began to consider the injustice that prevents children — and adults — from accessing opportunities that could open the world to them.

About this time, I was becoming more involved in my local unit of United Methodist Women. In response to a campaign, Making the World Safe for Children and Youth in the 21st Century, the unit sponsored an event to raise issues children faced in our community.

It was a small town, so many local politicians and leaders participated. For example, the police chief reported on local crimes involving children as victims and perpetrators; a family-court judge talked about children who appeared before him and how he tried to address them, especially on first offenses; a spokeswoman from Child Protective Services talked about her cases; and the superintendent of schools shared his challenges.

It was an enlightening evening. A small group got together after the meeting to talk about continuing the process. Members of the group met monthly to gather more in-depth information from community leaders about the children in our area, and we asked each of them what we — a small group of mostly older women — could do to help.

We got requests to become mentors to youth and to chaperone and provide refreshments for youth activities. Some speakers asked us to talk to the city council about funding youth programs. Others asked for help staffing displays about their programs and services at community events. Others asked us to recruit tutors. Some wanted us to help connect local services.

Our next direction became clear. We needed to work with others, so we partnered with another local church of a different denomination, different race, and different economic resources. That partnership grew to a nondenominational Christian gathering and eventually into a community–wide effort when it allied with the local Red Cross. This community group now provides after–school programming and summer day camp for children from low-income neighborhoods.

Finding your way
My story is one way to do social action. There are many others. At the heart of engaging in social action — embracing "social holiness" in John Wesley’s words — is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The Gospel is full of examples where Jesus lived his earthly life beyond the boundaries of his organized religious community. Faithful to that community, Jesus taught, healed, conversed, and encountered people outside the walls of synagogues or temples.

When Jesus confronted injustice, he challenged learned people of faith and the religious establishment. In his death was a witness against the occupying Roman government — a reminder that God’s kingdom is not of this world.

When Jesus touched the untouchable, spoke to women, ate with tax collectors, and allowed a prostitute to touch him, he demonstrated a lifestyle of social action that meets real life. He offered social action aligned with personal piety as a model for faithful living.

Social action begins with homework. Too often we seek change for others without asking the people who are involved what they need and how to proceed. Too often we fail to see others already working for the change we seek. Homework includes listening to those in need and others in your community who share your concerns, whether they are people of faith or secular allies.

By working with others, we avoid duplication of services and competition for money and volunteers. Working with others facilitates comprehensive, holistic responses and change. Consulting and following the lead of those most impacted leads to real change owned by those with the greatest needs.

Get Involved
The Society of St. Andrew (www.endhunger.org) is an ecumenical Christian ministry dedicated to meeting both spiritual and physical hungers. They feed the hungry all year long by saving fresh produce that would otherwise go to waste and giving it to the needy. The ELCA's commitment to supporting people who live with chronic hunger and poverty is carried out by ELCA World Hunger through relief, development, education, and advocacy. To learn more, go to www.elca.org/hunger