I just read an article from my friend Zac about proximity to the poor — and it stirred something deep in me.
The longer I serve in Africa, the more I see this simple truth: You cannot love or serve the poor from a distance. You have to get close to people. You have to sit with people. You have to listen to people.
Poverty is not a spreadsheet. It’s a story. It’s the grandmother raising her grandkids on a small plot of land. It’s the student walking miles to school because there’s no money for transport. It’s the pastor who studies late into the night because he’s hungry to teach God’s Word.
And yet — even in their “lack” — I have seen resilience, faith, joy, and a dignity that humbles me every single time.
The question is not, “How do we fix poverty?” The better question is, “How do we walk with people, honor their dignity, and help unlock what God has already placed inside them?”
That’s what proximity teaches you. When you get close enough, you stop seeing problems to solve — you see people to walk with.
Zac’s article captured it beautifully:
“The way Jesus lived was a beautiful example of drawing close to the poor and walking with them. The message is unmistakable: God cares deeply about the poor, and we’re invited to do the same.”
“Regardless of what we do, it should always mean having close proximity to the people we’re trying to serve – listening first to understand their desires, not just our desires for them.”
You can read Zac’s full article here: 👉 Proximity to the Poor by Zac Sicher
This is the heartbeat behind everything I do in East Africa. Every student. Every pastor. Every village. The closer I get, the more I realize: I’m the one being changed.
How has proximity changed your own perspective on poverty? I’d love to hear your thoughts.