In the fall of 2003, the United Church of God launched the Good Works program. This program provided a place and way for brethren to help others in the church. The United Church of God has always had an assistance fund built into the budget, but sometimes circumstances would arise that the general assistance fund wasn’t budgeted for. Thus, the Good Works program was born; generally these projects provide for emergency or other unusual situations.

But why do we do it? Jesus said, “Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’ Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me’” (Matthew 25:34-40).

God commands us to care for others, and over the last nine years we have tried to fulfill this edict. The projects have been varied, and recently there has been a lull in new projects. But we are “re-launching” this much-needed program with renewed vigor.

As we chart our course for the future and make our plans, it’s helpful to look back on what we have already accomplished. Numerous projects have been funded and completed, and the following are just a snapshot of some of those projects. In 2004 a new roof was installed on the church building in Ghana. In the same year a number of scholarships were provided for members in the Philippines as well as grain relief after a major crop failure in Kenya. Mosquito nets and malaria treatments were also provided. In 2006 famine relief was provided for our members in Malawi; construction of church halls took place in Rwanda, Cameroon and Zambia. In 2007 a dental project was funded in Rwanda, a well was dug in Kenya, disaster relief was provided in Chile, El Salvador and the Philippines, and land was purchased in Zambia for a church hall and Feast location. In 2008 funds provided relief for a famine in Kenya, a church hall was funded in Togo and emergency funds were distributed in Mexico and the Philippines. And more recently donated Bibles were distributed in the Philippines, Zambia and Malawi, and a bus was purchased for the brethren in Zambia.

These have been worthwhile projects that have served our members well, and we will continue, through the generosity of our brethren, to provide for similar projects, particularly emergency relief. As we refocus our efforts we recognize an element that must be present; the element of service. We hope for Good Works to focus on service projects, we hope that Good Works will be brethren helping brethren.

As stated in this month’s issue of The Good News we also partnered with LifeNets, an organization supported by many in the United Church of God to work together with Good Works to help our young people with scholarships.  Through LifeNets we have been able to leverage resources for projects that help entire communities with clinics, orphanages and fresh water.

As we renew our efforts to aid our brethren facing difficult situations around the world we hope to fulfill our commission from Galatians 6:10: “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.”