A church that centers around caring for people locally and globally.
I helped out at Conscious Christmas two months ago, an event in Long Beach where small businesses that give back or locally craft their products can set up shop and have a sort of fair-trade marketplace. I was working with The Tote Project, a wonderful company that exists to help end slavery around the globe.
At this event I got to converse with so many lovely people, but how did they all know about the event? Church.
Many of the shoppers were there because their church knew the importance of shopping with integrity and with the makers in mind. This blew me away and excited me to the fullest. Ignoring the fact that many consumer products come from horrid working conditions and slavery is an issue, it is especially an issue in the westernized Christian church. Even our churches are materialized with media, events, free stuff, and feel-good messages.
Honestly, most of us just do not know that our clothes come from sweat shops, or do we? Are we more focused on how trendy we can be and less focused on where our super good, cheap deals come from?
What does Christ care more about- fitting in for the sake of comfort or standing out for the sake of others? Does Christ care more about convenience or going out of our way for those who have less?
My point is, this church that put on this event did not do it to draw people in, to gain more followers, or to get rad media footage, they did it because they wanted to create a space for good things to grow and for people around the globe to be supported and cared for through these ethical businesses that WE get the HONOR to support.
It was such a blessing to be surrounded by people who shop the way that they do because it’s right and ethical. Thank you Long Beach Christian Fellowship.
