Victims of hurricanes and other disasters: Are churches more willing to help the unknown than the known victims?

Article 6  Volume 2

Do Churches Hold Back Too Much When It Comes to Helping the Needy?

Each year churches take in millions of dollars.  You would think that one of their main goals would be to assist the local community and persons they know who are victims of hurricanes, floods, loss of job, sudden sickness and many other setbacks that occur in people lives.  Well, I think in the heart many churches are willing to help.  But, I believe, in many cases, they are more apt to gear their assistance to the unknown persons than to the known.

It is difficult sometimes for church members to digest the fact that persons they know are in need.  For example, many of us may have family members affected by hurricanes like Sandy or Katrina or other disasters and they stand in the need of help. The thought may be, while don't they (victims) just leave the area?  We will pray for them.  Prayer is always good. However, do they consider that they could use a little bit of financial help? 

Let us consider two persons standing in need.  One, you have seen grow up right before your eyes.  Another, you don't know anything about.  Which one do you think will most likely be offered the most, if any, financial help? The chances may be even better for the unknown if they never attended your church, live in another state or country, or know how to cope a plea.

Look at the budget of your church. How much money is allocated in the budget  to assist community or local citizens in need? Chances are less than ten percent of the budget. Often if the known person or family receive any help, they have to fill out so many papers to show justification, consequently, they just say forget it.  Whereas, all the unknown persons have to do is express a need.

I am not indicting any church or churches.  I just believe that the thought process has not reached home with many good intention persons and churches.

This opinion includes several Christian organizations that virtually ignore making provisions in their budgets to assist local needy persons or families.

(to be continued)


  Copyright 2012 Grady E. Bryant, Sr.  All Rights Reserved

Church Ground Burial: Have you checked on your family's burial sites lately?

Article 5  Volume 2




Many families have burial sites on church grounds. Recent events have prompted me to raise a question about the maintenance, record keeping and existence of grave sites families think exist.  Many churches have large turnovers of personnel and consequently the record keeping for grave sites is ignored.  As a result, grave sites get lost in the shuffle. Therefore, nobody can find any records to verify the existence of a vacant plot or can verify who is buried where.

I urged families to verify that their church accountability for grave sites, if any, is accurate.  In some cases, I believe, families will be surprised.  Let's face it, at most churches this is a volunteer job,  and many of the grave keepers are deceased or old.  Their duties started many years ago when they didn't really keep a written record.  They relied on memory. So, when some of them passed on - so did the whereabouts of certain grave sites.  In some cases, I was told, two or three family members were buried in one grave and nobody could be sure who they were.

Then, I believe, there are sites that two or three families think they own. But when the time comes, for either of the three families to use the site, they may find that it was sold or given to fourth family.

 In these times where land utilization is critical, some grave sites may have been paved over for parking lots, sold or just ignored.

You may be aware of the big mess they had at Ft Myer with grave sites. If it happens there - a multimillion dollar graveyard - why couldn't it happen at your church?

If families can afford it, I encourage them to consider a private or military (if eligible) grave site. They are generally  maintained better and records are kept.  Churches are okay, but the future in some cases, are unpredictable.  Churches are relocating and expanding.

In conclusion, I encourage families to check on their family owned grave sites and verify the records with the responsible person at the church.

Then you can have peace of mine.

(to be edited)