He had the opportunity to take part in the Global Leadership Summit in 2007 in Jakarta. At the meeting, God asked him to challenge his congregation to open its heart more for the people in the community.

Pastor Pangkey felt that God wanted him to look to the others who haven’t yet been reached by our programs and the church. This is how he began the Stefanus Group.

“God spoke to me through the scripture in Acts 6:1-7, which speaks about the seven chosen men. The Twelve Disciples chose Stephen and six other men to be responsible for what the people needed at that time.

“We know that people who live in poverty are not only people in the past. We still meet a lot of people who live in poverty today. They can’t afford their basic needs like meals because many of them don’t have opportunity to have a job or build their own business. They have to struggle every day to fulfill their basic needs.”

Struggling to provide enough room for the 295 children registered children in the child development center, the pastor knew that God would do something. Pastor Pangkey began sharing his vision for the Stefanus Group with his congregation in every service or whenever he had the opportunity to share.

He shared about people who give their love by serving others. He shared the story about Stephen and the other men the disciples chose to serve the needy. He challenged his congregation to share their passion for others by giving meal support.

Much of his congregation felt excited to help people in community. But many of them also rejected the pastor’s vision.

“They didn’t want to receive meal support to help them to survive. They thought if they receive the support, other people will think that they would be the same as the poor people.”

Pastor Pangkey knew that changing the congregation’s paradigm about this ministry wouldn’t be easy, but he didn’t give up. He kept sharing what God asked of him and kept challenging people to become involved in the group. Seven were chosen to serve the needy.

As a beginning, $100 was assigned by the pastor to buy meals. More support then began coming in from his congregation. They gave not only food, but also their time their time and energy cooking the meals. Now people may come to the church anytime if they can’t provide a dish in their home.

Among the seven people who have chosen to join the group are cooking tutors, those responsible for cooking and providing the meals for children in the center.

The Stefanus Group started serving church members who needed meal support, then expanded to include their neighbors who are also in need and couldn’t make dishes in their home.

“The congregation started to inform the church that their neighbors needed meals. Whenever we heard that kind of information, we tried to hurry up and serve their basic needs by visiting them at home. We didn’t think about who they are or from what church they came. All we want to do is to help those who are in need.”

During this time, God blessed the church with more land to build eight rooms for the children to learn. But the blessings haven’t come just to the children; most of Pastor Pangkey’s congregation members are now employed.

Before the Stefanus Group began, most of the people in the congregation didn’t have jobs, and it was very difficult to find jobs. But after they began the ministry and helping those in need around them, church members began to find work.

Because they have begun to earn, the congregation has been giving regular offerings. This has enabled the church to buy the land and build the facilities for the children.

“God has given His blessing to us because He sees us faithful in small things. He has entrusted more to us because of our work in this ministry. We believe what we enjoy today is one of His blessings.”

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“All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need.” – Acts 2:44-45 (NIV)

In today’s world, that’s out of the ordinary. Unfortunately, society preaches the opposite: More is better! People seem to acquire more “things” that they seem to hold onto with a firm grip. Of course, I understand necessities or essentials – for example, people need transportation to get to work – but WHAT IF you and I sold our *nonessentials* in order to provide for those who truly have need?

Here’s what worked for me: Go into your closet, around your house, your basement (I know, it might be intimidating!) Imagine God with you – imagine God cleaning those places out with you. What would He throw in the “to be sold so others may eat” pile?

In my pile were (just to name a couple):

Handbags:

Me: “But God, I really like those bags. This cute little black one, yeah I use it when I go out to dinner with my husband.”

God: “Britt, when was the last time you went out to dinner with you husband?”

Me (shuffles feet): “Um … does PB&J in our backyard when the kiddos go to sleep count?

God: “Britt, you really don’t use that bag, do you?”

Me: “I guess not.”

A fancy dress that I wore back in 2005:

Me: “But God, this was a dress that I wore to a very special ball. It saw important people! I looked so good in this dress! What if I go somewhere fancy again and need this dress?!”

God: “Britt, have you worn this dress since? And don’t start on who you think important people are – remember, I have no favorites. Oh, by the way, give me a break – the dress couldn’t possibly see anyone because it’s not living – whereas I have children all over the world who could benefit from you selling this dress.”

Me (bites lip): “Well, when you put it like that …”

Can you think of some things that you are holding onto? Why are you holding onto them? Are they really that important?

This will be hard. The enemy will try and deceive you. Here’s what he tried whispering in my ear:

“Ah, but what sort of difference would one, two or even a hundred people make? This is a waste of time. Besides, you deserve to hold onto these things. Someone else will take care of those kids.”

But fight back!

Remember that your faith tells you that we serve an amazingly loving God who will work through us – can you imagine the possibilities if you take that first step?

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“All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continues to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all. There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands and houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need.” – Acts 4:32-35 (NIV)

Wait a minute … did I read that right? There were no needy persons among them. How did I miss this before?

Back in July we had a discussion about whether or not we should – or even can – end poverty. It was a good discussion with some very insightful comments.

This verse wasn’t mentioned in that discussion, but as I read the verse I started to ponder something.

If the believers in Acts were able to essentially eradicate poverty among their community, why couldn’t we (the Church) follow their lifestyle and do the same today? What would happen if churches would simply start following the model of the Church in Acts? Could we eliminate poverty?

What do you think? Does this verse change how you think about poverty and the Church’s role in ending it?

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