Solidarity vs. Charity

The following article was submitted by Grace Baptist Church in Statesville, North Carolina. They too have a Sister Parish linkage in Guatemala.

Why Bring a Delegation North?

We are products of our culture. Like it or not, we anticipate, think about and live out our reactions to any given situation based on how, and where, we were raised. Our culture may instill in us many admirable values, However, it can also inoculcate in us values that have little to do with the faith journey we as a community are trying to make.

Our North American culture has firmly rooted in us the value of things in terms of "How much does it cost?" I remember as a child the first question that my parents would ask when I wanted to do something was "How much does it cost?" I find myself asking the same question now and often hear many friends who are parents asking the same thing. I have loved my workplace as a job where patients and quality care are the "bottom line". However, I don't dare submit a proposal for any project without underscoring it with an answer to the question, "How much does it cost?"

The delegation from our Sister Parish in Guatemala will cost about $5000. A lot of money. Money that could buy houses (about one and a half in Chontala). Money that could buy a lot of stoves. Money that could train a lot of health care workers. Too much cost? In a word, no.

Sister Parish is designed to be a program about relationship. In the long run, isn't relationship more valuable than things? Given our North American background, we may all be swallowing hard before being able to answer that question, but Christ constantly role modeled being in relationship in his ministry, whether eating lunch with the tax collectors or in spending quiet time with his disciples. Not an example to sneeze at.

I really like a current credit card commercial. While it is encouraging us to extend our credit a bit further (another value we can thank our North American up-bringing for), it makes a considerable point: Cost of round trip plan tickets from Guatemala? About $3800. Cost of other delegation expenses? About $1100. Cost of a rare chance for a North American community of faith to be directly involved in bringing about a little of God's peace and justice in this world? Priceless.

finding joy in our journey with you.
The Sister Parish Committee of Grace Baptist Church, Statesville, NC