Spreading the True Charity Message in Four Easy Steps

Amanda Fisher
Community Engagement Director
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Recently, one of our youngest daughter’s friend lost her first tooth before our daughter did. As you can imagine, our daughter felt she was missing out on something big. So when the day finally came and her first tooth was out – she couldn’t contain her excitement. She shared the news with everyone: family, friends, teachers, classmates, and even strangers at Walmart! If you were anywhere in her vicinity, you were going to hear about it AND see the gaping hole in her mouth – whether you wanted to or not. My husband and I thought that after a few days, her excitement would wear off. Much to our surprise, it hasn’t diminished one bit.

For me, encountering True Charity was a similar experience.

During my years of “helping” people struggling in poverty, I could see that my efforts, no matter how well- intentioned, were short-term fixes rather than lifelong solutions. I was missing out on something big. So when I finally discovered True Charity, I couldn’t contain my excitement. I shared it with everyone—(OK, maybe not strangers at Walmart, but everyone else). If I was anywhere in your vicinity, you were going to hear about True Charity, with one caveat: I was not going to show you my teeth, no matter how many times you asked. And you know what? My excitement hasn’t diminished one bit.

If you’re excited about True Charity too, but doubtful about how well you can share what you’ve learned (or where to start), I encourage you: Don’t underestimate your influence! You can make a huge impact on the lives of more people than you think.

As the Director of Community Engagement, I encourage you to become better equipped to connect with others and start a community-wide movement by becoming a True Charity Ambassador.

In the meantime, here are four steps anyone can take to spread the word:

1. Set aside time for continued self-education

The better you understand effective charity, the more successful you will be in communicating its benefits to others. Read Toxic Charity, When Helping Hurts, and The Tragedy of American Compassion. If time is an issue, listen to them on Audible.

If you’ve already read them and are interested in more content, check out these short book reviews.
Commit one hour a week to interacting with content on the True Charity Network Members’ Portal. (Put it on your calendar so you don’t forget). There, you’ll find a wealth of information at your fingertips.

Here are a few places to start:

Watch or listen to past webinars pertinent to your context.
Watch or review True Charity Take-Away videos. You might find a topic that would be perfect to share with a friend or fellow leader.
Complete the interactive, self-paced courses at True Charity University.
Check out our Model Action Plans (MAPs). One True Charity Ambassador recently said, “I’m so glad I knew about the MAPs! Even though our organization doesn’t need a Child Care Co-Op, the problem of childcare affordability was a focus at our recent community meeting. I was able to tell the group about the Model Action Plan and point them to True Charity.” You never know when this information might be helpful to you or someone else.

2. Talk about True Charity in your sphere of influence

Small groups, Sunday School classes, Bible Studies, and friend groups often discuss poverty. A friend may say, “I always just give $5 to people on the street and let Jesus do the rest.” Kindly tell them you’ve learned about a better way to respond. If they ask questions you don’t have answers to, point them to True Charity resources or books that have influenced you.
Share True Charity’s social media posts. Since the average American spends over two hours a day on social media, using that platform to share positive stories of organizational change and lives transformed is a powerful, effective way to get the word out.
Ask friends to connect you with others looking for a better way to do charity. For example, if you hear, “My pastor wants to change our church food pantry because we’re serving the same people over and over,” respond with, “I’d love to let him know about True Charity. Will you introduce us?”
Place the True Charity Network Member logo on your website and social media, and link it to the True Charity website.

3. Lead a small group study or book club

When Helping Hurts; The Small Group Experience is a six-session course that includes free online videos, discussion questions, application exercises, and materials for further learning. If you don’t lead a group, suggest it to your small group leader.

If you’re part of a book club, suggest your next book be poverty-related. If you choose Toxic Charity, we created this guide to spark discussion.

4. Practice what you preach

As the saying goes, actions speak louder than words. Here are some ideas to help:

Extend yourself to the poor by serving with a local ministry that mentors those in poverty (Isaiah 58:10-11). As James Whitford, True Charity’s founder and CEO says, “Fighting poverty is a ‘one-person-at-a-time’ task.”
If your small group does service projects, suggest partnering with nonprofits who emphasize building relationships with people struggling in poverty. If you serve at an organization focused on relief efforts, suggest alternating between it and a mentoring organization that focuses on developmental work.
Give to organizations that practice discernment and address the root causes of poverty. The TC Giving Guide is an easy-to-use, one-page resource that will help you evaluate what organizations to support. Then, encourage your friends by telling stories about how the organization is helping people.

Wherever you are on the Path to Effective Charity, i.e., you’re …

Just getting started and eagerly anticipate what’s ahead.
A seasoned veteran who knows the bumps and curves, is thankful the path is straightening out, and is ready to tackle the next hurdle.
Or you’re so new to the whole concept of effective charity you’re not sure there is a path …

I hope you are as excited about moving forward and telling others about what you’ve learned as a five-year-old missing her first tooth. After all, if we don’t, those who desperately need hope and help will miss out on something big.

Are you interested in becoming better equipped to spread the message of effective charity in your community and connect with other churches and nonprofits to the True Charity Network? Explore becoming a True Charity Ambassador.