“Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat, drink and wear?’ … for your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” –Matthew 6:31-33
We must remember this commandment, in good times and bad. We should never turn our back on our beliefs, Christian duties, or our God. Churches have an opportunity to step up in times of need, to be an extraordinary blessing to communities all over the country.
The generosity of us and our churches will be more deeply felt by our communities as we confront inflation and uncertainty. And remember, God isn’t measuring how much we give. Instead, our Father wants to see that we care.
“Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, ‘Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”’ –Mark 12: 43-44
We should not lose sight of our Christian values and our ability to love thy neighbor and bear witness for our savior. God has not forgotten us. Already we are seeing relief in lower gas prices, more jobs, and slowing inflation.
Despite what the news says, there is hope. Our Lord gives us hope and strength, always, and things are getting better. Black faith leaders and communities have shown extraordinary acts of kindness and have not forgotten the good word of the Bible.
Black Churches’ Impact on Community
During Easter of 2021, New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Georgia held a food and gas giveaway. Bags of groceries and gas station gift cards were distributed to neighbors in need.
At Salem Baptist Church in Nebraska, 500 backpacks are being distributed to children this weekend before school starts. Head pastor Selwyn Bachus told reporters, “We know how difficult things are for families this time of the year … we’re giving out 200 more this year than we gave out last year and we really had to dig deep and make a sacrifice.”
In July 2021, churches in Oklahoma City worked together to distribute $350,000 in everyday supplies that were no longer as accessible to families in need impacted by inflation.
These acts did not go unnoticed. These church communities recognize the hard work and sacrifice of the churches who bear witness through their actions.
Inflation continues to rise
In August, US inflation experienced its first rise since June 2022, reaching 3.7%, largely due to a significant surge in energy costs as summer came to a close.
While the recent uptick in prices is noticeable, it's still much lower than the soaring inflation rates observed the previous summer, which hit a climax of 9.1% in June. This upward shift in inflation suggests that the US economy is drifting away from the Federal Reserve's desired 2% rate. As a result, officials might contemplate raising interest rates in the coming months.
Energy commodities, encompassing gas and oil, saw a 10.5% leap over the past month, as per the newest Consumer Price Index figures that track the cost of various goods and services. The escalation in gas prices during August can be attributed to Russia and Saudi Arabia's sustained supply reductions, driving the price of crude oil to a 10-month peak of $91 per barrel. The surge in gas prices contributed to over half of the total inflation rate growth.
As the summer begins to come to an end, may God continue to bless the USA as it continues to have the most opportunities of any country in the world. In the meantime, Christ-followers will continue to dutifully serve their communities and spread Christ’s love by serving their neighbors.