David Brooks’ excellent article about this week’s quake in Haiti is a must-read. Whether you agree with his diagnosis or not, he shines a light on a problem that absolutely must be addressed: there is no formulaic relationship between monetary aid and economic development/autonomy.  Haiti...

Haiti saddens me.  It saddens me in part because so many have lost so much.  It also saddens me because I care so little. I don’t say this flippantly.  I say this because it’s the reaction I have right now.  It’s not something I’m proud of; it’s simply what’s going on at this moment in...

I was recently talking with a friend of mine named Jane about her work at a Christian international non-profit near my hometown in the Midwest. In the course of our conversation she said, “I’m just not sure there is a place for women here.” When I asked why, Jane said, “I think it has to do with...

10. Local Food Banks We’ve experienced two recessions in the 2000s, and the second is the worst Americans have seen in decades.  This has meant that even more people rely on food banks to meet their daily needs as unemployment rises and incomes stagnate and fall.  The USDA’s recent figures...

10.  Bono Bono, the rock-star-turned-humanitarian, has been speaking truth to power since 1999.  He has achieved near honorary statesman status and has influenced many heads of state.  Since 2002 he has become increasingly involved in campaigning for third-world debt relief and raising awareness...

My 14-year-old daughter Hannah and my husband Gary went to the Chicago auditions for America’s Got Talent this past weekend. I was there with them for the first three hours of their 10-hour wait to sing for 90 seconds for two unknown judges and a cameraperson. And they had quite a day…meeting Elvis...

A few thousand Southern Baptists from all over the United States filed in to the civic center in downtown Indianapolis. We sang hymns together, led by slick looking choir leaders. President Bush addressed us via satellite, which triggered the biggest applause of the whole event. I sat and observed, excited...

While most of the city is waking up, the doctor is putting my son to sleep.  He’s six years old and doesn’t know what is happening to him.  He only trusts his mom and dad when they say, ‘things will be okay,’ and then the doctor puts a mask over his little face and off to sleep he goes.  The...

Author’s Note: A few months ago my husband and I both resigned from our jobs (a pastor and a worship leader at a large Southern church, respectively) right after having our second child, in an effort to pursue our passion for social justice in a new way.  After four months of searching, we have...

My 12 year old daughter has gotten up almost every Thursday at 4:30am for almost two years to go cook and feed breakfast to the homeless population of Baton Rouge.  The breakfast is served at the Baton Rouge Dream Center’s Roselawn location, which is just off Florida Blvd, right down the road...