All parents want these things for their children, and they are prepared to move to places where they see better opportunities for the future, even if it means hard times for the present.
And where the people congregate, so too the Churches need to be, in order to minister to families who have moved away from their traditional support bases.
In the developing world, people move from the rural areas to the cities looking for improved access to all these things (as happened in Europe during the Industrial Revolution – but in numbers far greater than ever in the 18th century).
In the developed world such as Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the USA, young couples try to secure a firm grounding for their families by purchasing 'a house of their own'. Often this is in areas away from where they grew up, whether because of employment opportunities or cheaper housing away from the cities. This means they, too, are separated from their support networks of family and old friends.
Burgeoning humanity
Mark Tronson, chairman of Well-Being Australia, has done a quick internet search, and has found many many examples of churches and missions in the fast-growing 'slum' areas of the developing world; and he also knows from experience how modern churches in Australia and the US need to buy more land and build more suitable accommodation to cater for families in areas of rapid growth and new housing estates.
He thinks that the churches have several roles to play in these areas of burgeoning humanity.
Whether in the very poorest areas or in more affluent 'outer suburbs', or even in mining towns with itinerant 'fly in fly out' populations, the needs of the parishioners are the same. First, their basic needs must be met. But many churches also provide charities, as well as social support networks and mid-week activities for a range of interest groups such as young mothers with kids, singles, the elderly, those wanting bible study, or those needing home visits.
In the developing world, the needs of the people are very basic and the missionaries and congregations are busy providing some of the things that we in the western world take for granted. But young families everywhere are struggling within to do the best for their families. Lessons need to be learnt about the dangers of over-extending a loan, on minimal savings, from experience in the US during the Global Financial Crisis starting in 2008, where the value of housing dropped rather than rose, and many families who had mortgages beyond their means had their houses repossessed.
Raises issues in funding
In Australia and Canada, the systems for lending to 'first home buyers' is under scrutiny, to make sure firstly that those who can afford property can have access to funds; and secondly that those who do not have enough savings to provide equity perhaps are monitored more carefully.
People in the western world are often happy to give to the missionaries in the developed world, because they see the need as so great, and the resources required for the basic services are relatively small.
But, Mark Tronson says, we should not forget the needs of those in our own back yard, whose spiritual requirements are equally as great, but whose social expectations are higher. Churches are expected to provide meeting rooms and car-parking and libraries for bible-study and Sunday-school and all the other mid-week activities the community needs.
No matter where we live, no matter what our lifestyles, if we expect the spiritual guidance and social support that churches have always given their parishioners, we must be mindful that the financial constraints on the church organisations is much the same as those young families experience.
In the end, your own congregation needs your support equally as much as those in poorer areas of the world – whether it be by financial donations or the free giving of your time as a volunteer.
Dr Mark Tronson is a Baptist minister (retired) who served as the Australian cricket team chaplain for 17 years (2000 ret) and established Life After Cricket in 2001. He was recognised by the Olympic Ministry Medal in 2009 presented by Carl Lewis Olympian of the Century. He has written 24 books, and enjoys writing. He is married to Delma, with four adult children and grand-children.
Mark Tronson's archive of articles can be viewed at www.pressserviceinternational.org/mark-tronson.html
