We are so grateful for the amazing work of All-Stars Club—and for the Hope Angels who lead this organization! The heart behind their ministry is to serve differently-abled people and their families. They invest a lot of time, relationship and resources in caring for a population which is often overlooked. If you reflect on that sentence, it is clear why we have such deep respect for their work. What they do in Denver is not much different from what we do in Rwanda. Both organizations work to serve those who are most vulnerable, and both organizations are driven by the love of Christ.
Last week, Hope Haven was gifted a sponsorship of their annual golf tournament by a strong supporter of both organizations. We were honored to field two golf teams, and to hang out at Hole #5 to engage with some very gifted golfers! It was a gorgeous day at the Club at Pradera and it wasn’t a bad way to spend a Monday. But what was even better about the day was that we all knew we were contributing to a “worthy cause.”
What qualifies as a “worthy cause?” People often ask a question before donating: Is this a worthy cause?
“Worthy” literally means “virtuous, good, ethical, principled.” No one wants to support something they can’t trust. In our scandal-laden culture, we’ve all seen too many ploys to separate us from our resources for activities that have turned out to be “unworthy causes.”
Here are two principles I use to determine whether a cause is worthy or not:
First, is it something that is close to God’s heart? In 1970, after visiting poverty-stricken children in Korea, Bob Pierce famously prayed, “Let my heart be broken with the things that break the heart of God.”
What a great prayer. God cares for those who are vulnerable. Countless Scriptures highlight his interest in caring for those who have difficulty caring for themselves. Sometimes the challenge comes through disability, sometimes the challenge of caring for ourselves comes through poverty.
Secondly, a cause is worthy when you can trust the leaders. One thing I’m incredibly proud of about our work at Hope Haven Rwanda is that I know it’s solid, authentic and legitimate. No one is inappropriately profiting off of gifts to Hope Haven Rwanda. Thousands of families are being empowered to change their family’s trajectory! Unfortunately, this hasn’t always been the case with organizations I have encountered as I have journeyed through life—and I am sure you can relate.
When these two realities align—a mission God cares about and leaders you can trust—you can be confident that you are supporting a worthy cause!