Giving the Basics

​----- Forwarded message ------
From: ​Muriel Luedeman​
mur620@gmail.com


Giving the Basics

Dear, Saints,

Giving the Basics, a community support group started by Teresa Hamilton of Bob Hamilton Plumbing, was featured on the front page of the KC Star yesterday. I was intrigued to know more about it since I have been involved with community outreach for several months. Attached below is a link to a 7 minute video which I copied from their website. Giving the Basics supplies personal care products to 315 schools and agencies across the KC Metro area. There is so much convicting information in this short presentation. Please watch it to understand the magnitude of the problems our children face every day. Take note of the numbers the speakers talk about, that within the Shawnee Mission School District alone, there are 500 students who meet the federal guidelines of homeless, 10,000 children are economically disadvantaged, and 40% qualify for free and reduced fee lunches. It will take you to your knees asking the Lord for insight on what we all can say and do together for the Kingdom.

What Teresa Hamilton is doing is nothing short of Kingdom building whether she knows it or not, stepping in to fill a great need. Before Teresa got involved, community support groups like City Union Mission, the Good Samaritan Project, Salvation Army, and area school teachers were scrambling to find, and paying out of their own pockets for personal hygiene supplies for low income and homeless families they serve. With Giving the Basics in place as a linking distributor of these essentials, all these community groups have a consistent supply source. That is Kingdom style organization.

I disagree with Mrs. Hamilton on one point she made in the article, that this mission of hers isn’t about religion or politics, she just wants to free people from shame and help them get to a place where they can help themselves. It IS about religion because the followers of Jesus are commanded to take care of widows and the fatherless. It is critical to building the Kingdom. Restoration Saints are called to organize themselves to serve the needs of the poor, homeless, and fatherless. God is doing that work through others and we can feel good about supporting Giving the Basics, and learning from Teresa, praying and going about knowing what else God would have us do to make the Kingdom real here in this place and now.

What Giving the Basics is doing is being replicated across the country. It is coming out of the Center Place. It is not a Restoration group that is doing it, nevertheless other communities are seeing what is happening here and looking to this region for answers. God moves in mysterious ways to perform His works. We have great reason for hope here in the Center Place of Zion. It is AWESOME! To God be the Glory!

Muriel Luedeman

https://youtu.be/XFQjoci9D-s