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Love INC ministry of collaboration
Pastoral Pondering: Heed Jesus'
admonition to
minister to "the least of these"
A
plea for help
from someone who
knows the need |
By Christie Scotty, Newberg Graphic
Reporter
Email Christie at cscotty@eaglenewspapers.com
|
NPoverty and despair counteracted by hope and relief. These are the themes
David Begbie deals with in his work with the nonprofit aid agency Crossroads
International, and those he will likely tell a local crowd about this weekend.
Begbie, the son of the Hong Kong-based organization’s founders, has seen
firsthand what the poor in Asia and Europe deal with.
Helen Cadd of Newberg knows what Begbie has seen. She’s seen it herself,
working with a mission organization in the Philippines, some of the time alongside Begbie.
“He’s like one of our own kids,” Cadd said of Begbie, with
whom she traveled to Eastern Europe after the fall of communism to help people there.
Crossroads International grew from its accidental beginning to a
well-respected reputation that now works closely with organizations like Rotary.
The organization began after a devastating flood in Northern China left many
homeless. The group’s founders called some contacts in Australia for clothing to
donate, and boxes began pouring in. Soon, the family was unable to store the items in
their home and asked the government for storage space.
They were given room in an unused former British government building in Hong
Kong, Cadd said. That turned into hundreds of rooms. They now occupy an old British
military compound with more than 40 buildings, Cadd said, all given to them by the
government of China.
Crossroads International grew from two full-time workers sending relief to
one destination in 1995, to 35 staffers sending supplies to 270 destinations currently.
Cadd hopes Begbie’s talk in Newberg — one of many he gives around
the world to churches, business groups, college students, senior citizens and other groups
— will open people’s eyes to what goes on in the world.
Cadd has tried to record some of that reality in documentary films shot while
her family worked on missions, and recalls hearing stories of government-sponsored murders
and other horrors.
“Little girls 4 and 5 years old sell their bodies just to get their
food,” she said. “People aren’t aware of how much of this goes on, and
it’s all over the world.”
Crossroads International exists as a warehouse of goods sent to the needy
worldwide. One example are the government surplus bunk beds sent to an orphanage under
construction in India. Donations pour in from companies around the world —
medical supplies, furniture, whatever is needed.
“Several of the embassies and five-star hotels (in Hong Kong) completely
redecorated and when they do they call (Crossroads International) and give them all their
old stuff, which is nicer than anything we ever had,” Cadd said.
Begbie works with both Crossroads International, which physically stores
goods for the needy, and with sister organization Global Hand, which does a
“virtual” version of the warehousing process — using the Internet to match
people with surplus goods and those with needs.
Begbie will speak four times in Newberg Sunday.
He will address those gathered at the 8:15 a.m., 9:45 a.m. and 11:15 a.m.
morning services at Newberg Friends Church, 307 S. College St. An opportunity to speak
with him will be available after each service.
That evening, Begbie will speak at 6:30 p.m. at 2nd Street Church, which
meets at the Newberg Armory Youth Building, 620 N. Morton St. |
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From May 24,
2003, Newberg Graphic
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