To the Editor:
This time of the year people usually give more money to help the needy. After Christians give their 10 percent to their church they should consider some ways on making their other giving go further. One way is to reduce the number of organizations you choose to support and increase your giving to that smaller number. If you send a $20 gift once a year to an organization, it’s very possible your gift may actually cost that organization more than it produces. By the time the organization has receipted you, and tried a dozen times through the rest of the year by mail and phone to get you to repeat your gift, they’ve spent your $20. Some organizations have over 75 percent of gifts going to salaries and other administrative cost. I give to no one calling me on the phone as many are scams.
Teddy Roosevelt said, “It is eminently desirable that we should none of us be hard-hearted, but it is no less desirable that we should not be so soft-headed.” We shouldn’t give cash to panhandlers with signs such as “will work for food.” Several years ago one Texas businessman stopped 40 times to offer work to them but none accepted. It’s better to direct panhandlers to the Assistance Resources Ministry (ARM) behind Ingles, who can separate the needy from the greedy. There was an old saying told to those who gave panhandlers cash: “If drink has made a man poor, money will feed not him, but his drunkenness.”
The Bible in Galations 6 says, “As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.”(Christians) The best way to make your gift go further is to give locally to Christian people you trust such as ARM (542-0919), Camp Ta-Pa-Win Go-CBM Camp in Watauga (543-8272), Doe River Ministries Christian Camp in Hampton (725-4010), local Christian radio, the Gideons, etc. The Gideons give Bibles and all your gifts to them buys Bibles with none going to administrative cost. You should also donate clothes to ARM or Lynn Valley Baptist Church (543-6171).
Christians should do as Jesus did. Jesus always emphasized the need to help souls as well as bodies. Jesus fed thousands, but only after he presented the gospel. Our spare change will only help meet people’s needs today but people need real change that only comes from a relationship with Jesus. Jesus will help them forever. For Christians to only make sure people enter Hell with a full stomach and nice clothes is having misguided priorities!

D.D. Nave
Elizabethton