Can We Eliminate Discrimination? - Our Plan

Our plan to eliminate discrimination includes two important steps: demonstration of our love for others, and education for those who don't yet understand the hurt they cause when they discriminate against others.

Demonstration

Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 1 John 4:11

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. James 1:22

We believe in the simple phrase made popular by author Bob Goff: Love Does.  Whatever terms or phrases you use, the truth is simple: Christians are not called just to listen, we are called to DO.  And here at ECM, we do a lot of doing!  We spend our time loving, helping, encouraging, challenging, serving, and reassuring those whom God has called us to help.  We want them to feel God’s love tangibly, and not just hear it.  We want them to know beyond a shadow of a doubt that God loves each one of them.

We don’t do what we do to impress others, but there are benefits to having others in the community see love in action.  The truth is, there are many who don’t actually know how to love.  When they see what we do, they not only learn how God calls us to love each other, but they are also inspired to do the same.   We hope that our demonstrations of God’s love for everyone, including the unlovable, will move people away from their discriminating behaviors of the past, and toward an attitude of love for all.

Specifically, here are some examples of how we demonstrate God’s love by loving others:

• Meeting medical needs
• Providing sources of clean water
• Providing clothing and food to those in need
• Encouraging children and families through visits, Bible lessons, and letters
• Training school teachers and Sunday School teachers
• Providing items for children with albinism, such as sunscreen, hats, lip balm, and protective clothing
• Ensuring that school fees are paid so children can receive an education
• Teaching new farming techniques

Education

How much better to get wisdom than gold, to get insight rather than silver! Proverbs 16:16

 

Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.  Proverbs 9:9

 

We realize that no matter how much we help, no matter how many lives we change, no matter how many children we love, the cycle of discrimination will endlessly go on if those who are discriminating against others are never shown the truth.  It is up to us, (the ones who have the truth), to share it with those who are still in the dark. 

 

That’s why we are putting a renewed focus on education to help end discrimination.  We have always been concerned about helping people understand why it’s so important to show love, and why discrimination is not only misguided but detrimental to the health of children and their society as a whole.  Our curriculum on the truth of albinism has been used over the years to guide communities, schools, and churches toward a more Christ-like acceptance of those with albinism.  We are now expanding that curriculum to include a greater understanding and acceptance of those with disabilities, those from other tribes, and those living in extreme poverty.  This will help us guide communities away from the belief that certain children have been cursed and should be avoided, toward a love for all children that encourages everyone to embrace even the most unlovable.

 

We plan to take the following steps to educate communities about the negative impact of discrimination on their children and the positive steps they can take to end its stranglehold on their lives:

• Revise and improve the current albinism curriculum
• Expand and modify the curriculum to include information regarding others who are discriminated against in African society, such as those with disabilities, those from certain tribes, or those living in extreme poverty
• Engage schools, churches, and local leaders in open, respectful dialogue on the topic of discrimination and its impact on their community 

Over the course of the coming year we will be expanding our outreach into the communities where we currently minister, working to both demonstrate God’s love through our actions, and to educate others on the important, biblical reasons for ending discrimination against those forgotten in African cultures.  We will openly discuss these critical issues with anyone who will listen, and we will not rest until all children, no matter their physical state or their level of wealth, are accepted and loved in their communities.

 

Can We Eliminate Discrimination?

I suppose the realistic answer to the question above is a resounding NO!  I can't really argue with that, but I do think it's within our responsibility to do all we can within our sphere of influence bring an end to discrimination.  And that begs the question...

What can we do? 

At ECM, that question is always weighing on our minds.  Not “what can we talk about doing?” or “what can we think about doing?” or even “what can we plan to do?”  But what can we really do? 

We can’t answer that question for you, and we don’t even think we’re supposed to.  It’s something that you’ll have to grapple with on your own.

But we can answer that question for ECM. 

We want to eliminate the discrimination that divides the communities in which we minister, especially the discrimination that causes pain for those with disabilities, those with albinism, and those looked down upon because of their tribe or sex. We are committed to ending discrimination in every sphere where we have influence and restoring children and communities to one another and their Creator through God’s overwhelming love.

We know it's a big goal, but in the communities where we serve, we see children abused and discriminated against everyday because of how they look, how they walk, how they talk, or simply because of the tribe they belong to.  They can’t go places that other kids go, or do things that other kids do.  They don’t get the help they need because the people around them don’t care about them or are afraid of them.  They end up being prisoners in their own homes.  The people in their communities have built walls, and these kids are on the outside looking in.   To end such discrimination is a big goal, but it's one we are willing to go after.

Why do people choose to discriminate against these kids?  We know the answer is complex, but we think one reason is because people don’t understand why these kids are the way they are.  They see “curse” instead of disability or difference, and believe they need to protect themselves and their families, lest the same curse fall on them.  What they need is information.  They need to be educated.  They need to be told the truth about what causes albinism, physical and mental disabilities, and tribal differences.

That’s where ECM can help. 

We believe that we can educate communities, families, and churches about the true causes of these differences, and more importantly, about the love that God has for these children despite the differences.  We also believe that we can demonstrate for these communities how to love these kids unconditionally, so that everyone can see how it’s done.   

We truly believe that these efforts will not only change the lives of these children forever, but will also change the lives of those in the community now, which will eventually change the lives of all the children born into that community in the future.  We believe it will have a long-lasting impact. 

Next week I'll share more about our plan to eliminate discrimination in the areas where we minister.