WORD, DEED & SPIRIT AL TIZON
That Fine Line between Loving and Pimping
has just been done for the poor. While conferences are certainly not a waste of time, I do wonder about the expense and energy that are put into them in proportion to what they really accomplish. I fear that a vocation intended to serve the poor can easily slip into one that depends on the poor, i.e., “If God abolishes poverty, I would be out of a job.” “This is my fourth conference this year; God, forgive us for pimping the poor! I don’t have time for the poor.” Upon A bit crass, I suppose, but that is exactly overhearing this statement at a recent what we do if we replace caring for holistic ministry network gathering, I orphans and widows with charging laughed out loud. After all, it was said in people to sit around to talk about carjest, and it was funny. But over the past ing for them. I point my finger (at myself primarseveral months, it has lodged itself prophetically in the center of my soul.To the ily) not to condemn but to warn. What extent that this jest spoke the truth about can we do to keep from becoming mere those of us in the Christian community conference hoppers for the Lord? development biz, we have crossed that fine line between loving the poor and pimping the poor. I have no doubt that what got me into this kind of work in the first place included a gospel-inspired, Spirit-filled love for people, especially for the underserved and underprivileged. Love drove me to spend quality time in the slums, it inspired me to form friendships there, and it motivated me to think and strategize with community residents, grassroots community organizers, pastors, and fellow First, being aware of the danger missionaries to transform communities for Christ. And every once in a while, I can help. God often uses strange means would attend a conference or a seminar to communicate. In my case, he used a in order to pick up some new ideas, net- joke from the mouth of a fellow holiswork with others, and be refreshed and tic ministry advocate who happened to encouraged. I would come away with new be walking by. It wasn’t even for me to energy for the grueling work of holistic hear, and yet the punch line has had enough of an impact that I am now and ministry. That was then. Now I plan conferences, lead seminars, forever aware of the danger. I believe a conduct workshops, and teach courses heightened awareness of where we are on the subject. Furthermore, I often get in relation to that fine line between lov“backstage passes” to other enticing mis- ing and pimping is half the battle. Second, limiting attendance of consion gatherings (the rising numbers of such things are astounding). Honestly, between ferences can leave room for real planning and attending such events, there ministry. This naturally results from is little time for much else. And what’s becoming more aware of the danger of more, post-conference elation can deceive conference hopping.We don’t have to go me into thinking that something grand to all of them, no matter how “big time”
I’m embarrassed to say it, but one can be in community development ministry without ever interacting with a poor person.
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the keynote speakers are. One simply cannot attend conference after conference and still have time for anything else. We have to be prayerfully selective. I personally set a goal to be on the planning committee of only one national conference and to attend no more than two, maybe three, a year. Related to this, there has to be a way to measure the real value of conferences to the direct work among the poor. What does a post-conference evaluation form look like that measures success, not based on attendance and book sales but on increased effectiveness among holistic ministry practitioners? Third (and perhaps the most important), remaining directly involved in ministries with, for, and among the poor can keep us honest. I’m embarrassed to say it, but one can be in community development ministry without ever interacting with a poor person.The truth is, there is no substitute for the incarnational posture—real, on-theground identification, association, friendship, and partnership with sisters and brothers among the poor. Direct involvement keeps us honest and enables us to do conferences and seminars with Christcentered integrity. “This is my fourth conference this year; I don’t have time for the poor.” The person who said this meant to be funny, and he was. But I have never taken a joke so seriously before. Meditating on it has given me the power to resist the impulse to sign up for every conference that comes to town. It has inspired me to remain faithful to Christ’s call to love people by truly “being there” with them. And it has renewed my commitment to the kingdom that Jesus is building, one whose doors are open to all, but especially to the poor, the oppressed, and the lost. ■ Al Tizon is director of ESA’s Word & Deed Network and assistant professor of holistic ministry at Palmer Theological Seminary in Wynnewood, Pa.