One verse that has really encouraged me to help the poor is Proverbs 19:17. It says, “If you help the poor, you are lending to the LORD- and he will repay you!”

What a great thought – that when we help the poor, we are actually lending to the Lord God. And He will repay us for our help and generosity.

So what sort of things can we do to help the poor? Over the years my wife and I have supported different organisations who help the poor in different ways.

1. Compassion – you can sponsor a child to help them have food, an education and hope to break out of the poverty cycle.

2. Bible League – they provide free Bibles and study materials to people who will never be able to afford to buy one.

3. Leprosy Mission – Leprosy is curable with Multi-Drug Therapy (MDT) – a combination of three antibiotics. A small gift changes lives.

4. Destiny Rescue – they help rescue children who are being exploited by others because of their poverty. They offer hope and a safe future.

5. Foodbank – we use food donated to Foodbank for our school breakfast club. It helps our students start the day well and provides food parcels for families.

These are just some examples of how you can help the poor and lend to the Lord. You can give Bibles, food, medicine, safety or education. All of which change lives forever and bring hope.