MUST Ministries Day!

Last Friday, June 4th, JTS (Yes, the entire company!) went to MUST Ministries in Marietta, GA to help out however we could. MUST Ministries helps address the basic needs of individuals, families and children, providing clothing, food, hygiene kits and other needs to help out when they need it. We sorted some clothes, turning a large pile of shorts and shirts into racks organized by gender and size, so that folks who need them can easily find items that fit them. We also created 375 hygiene kits for children, to help them learn how to take care of themselves. That sentence speaks volumes, if you think about it. We’re trying to encourage and teach children to take care of themselves. That’s because their parents don’t have time, are absent, or perhaps are working so hard to make ends meet that they don’t have time to show them how to hold a toothbrush. I was blessed with 3 older brothers to teach me those things. It also means that we’re trying to teach them how to take care of themselves so that they (a) can do it themselves, and (b) know what they need in order to do so, so they can make sure they have it, so that (c) they don’t have to come back to MUST later.

Every time we go work at MUST, it simultaneously makes me proud to be helping and also want to cry. It’s hard to believe that folks are so needy that they need a quart bag with hotel soaps and shampoos in it, but in fact there are those people. A large percentage of folks served by MUST are “first-timers”, meaning it’s not the same people all the time. That’s really encouraging, but it’s also terrifying! When will it be my turn? When will it be your turn?

I encourage you to go and volunteer somewhere. Help build a Habitat house, sort food at the local food bank, deliver sermon recordings to homebound folks for the nearest church, or walk dogs for the nearest Humane Society. Whatever you choose to do, it’ll be worthwhile.

“Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and will be repaid in full.” Proverbs 19:17