Serving Others

Christmas

Christmas has become interesting for my wife and me.  Now that we have four children, most of our energy for gift giving goes into our children.  It has become increasingly difficult to buy presents for our parents, siblings, etc….  At this point my thinking has become, Everything I could get them or that they ask for they can by themselves.  Honestly, my mom can buy her own dish towels for the kitchen.  And, my wife and I have also found that buying each other gifts is different.  Most things we could “surprise” each other with simply costs too much.  So this year we agreed to go economical and simple.  Well, Rebecca knocked it out of the park.  She bought me my own copy of Black Gold: the Movie!  I’ve wanted to watch this documentary about fair trade coffee since it came out a couple years ago, but it never happened.

Coffee

First, let me say I’m not it the category yet of Chuck Jones or Cedric Lundy when it comes to coffee.  But, I do love coffee and have read a couple books about coffee (Uncommon Grounds and Fair Trade Coffee).  Rebecca and I started learning about the power and importance of fair trade coffee about five years ago and try to drink and buy only fair trade coffee when possible.  Coffee is the second most traded commodity in the world and the bulk of the actual coffee cultivation and harvesting is done by poor subsistence farmers and pickers in developing nations such as Ethiopia, the birthplace of coffee.  Fair trade coffee tries to alleviate some of the suffering of these farmers by cutting out middlemen so more money gets back to the farmers and pickers.  Black Gold documents the struggles of coffee farmers in Ethiopia (one of our ServeGlobal focus countries) and the hope of fair trade. 

Conviction

If I was convicted prior to watching this documentary, then I am doubly convicted (if that is possible) to drink and purchase fair trade coffee.  Will fair trade coffee or other products “cure” poverty?  No, but it is one way for me to be active with my faith especially recognizing that my decision as a believer in the West does impact my brothers and sisters around the globe.  I feel some responsibility and conscious decision making, on my part, needs to be undertaken.

Do you drink fair trade coffee?  Would you consider learning more?  By simply drinking fair trade coffee from Ethiopia, you are now actively serving in our ServeGlobal focus countries.  How cool is that?!

I’d love to hear your thoughts and perspectives so please consider leaving a comment above.  And, take a moment to watch the trailer for Black Gold below.  If you are interested in watching the entire movie, just let me know and I might let you borrow my Christmas present:)

God Bless,
RJ