Serve the Poor

Serve the Poor: Practical Guide

This page provides practical guides for serving the poor, sick, and imprisoned—the “least of these” that Jesus identifies with in Matthew 25. Every action here connects directly to Jesus’ teaching that how we treat the least of these is how we treat him.

“For I was hungry, and you gave me food to eat. I was thirsty, and you gave me drink. I was a stranger, and you took me in. I was naked, and you clothed me. I was sick, and you visited me. I was in prison, and you came to me… Most certainly I tell you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.” - Matthew 25:35-40

Scripture Foundation

Key Passages:

Why Serving the Poor Matters

Serving the poor is not optional for followers of Jesus—it’s central. Jesus identifies with the poor, sick, and imprisoned. How we treat them is how we treat Jesus. This is the foundation of our movement’s compassion and care principle.

Six Areas of Service

1. Feed the Hungry

What Jesus Says: “I was hungry, and you gave me food to eat.”

Getting Started:

  • Donate to a local food pantry
  • Volunteer at a soup kitchen
  • Start a small food drive in your community
  • Support organizations fighting hunger

Going Deeper:

  • Start a food pantry or meal program
  • Organize regular meal distributions
  • Partner with local organizations
  • Advocate for policies that address food insecurity

Resources:

See Also: Matthew 25

2. Give Drink to the Thirsty

What Jesus Says: “I was thirsty, and you gave me drink.”

Getting Started:

  • Support organizations providing clean water
  • Donate to water projects
  • Be aware of water issues in your community

Going Deeper:

  • Advocate for water access policies
  • Support water projects in underserved communities
  • Work for water justice

Resources:

  • Water access organizations
  • Policy: Policy

See Also: Matthew 25

3. Welcome the Stranger

What Jesus Says: “I was a stranger, and you took me in.”

Getting Started:

  • Welcome immigrants and refugees in your community
  • Support organizations serving newcomers
  • Practice hospitality in your daily life

Going Deeper:

  • Start a welcome program for newcomers
  • Build relationships across cultural boundaries
  • Advocate for just immigration policies
  • Create spaces of welcome

Resources:

  • Immigrant and refugee organizations
  • Policy: Policy

See Also: Matthew 25, Community

4. Clothe the Naked

What Jesus Says: “I was naked, and you clothed me.”

Getting Started:

  • Donate clothing to those in need
  • Support organizations providing clothing
  • Organize a clothing drive

Going Deeper:

  • Start a clothing ministry
  • Partner with local organizations
  • Address root causes of poverty

Resources:

See Also: Matthew 25

5. Visit the Sick

What Jesus Says: “I was sick, and you visited me.”

Getting Started:

  • Visit someone who is sick
  • Send cards or care packages
  • Offer to help with practical needs

Going Deeper:

  • Start a visiting ministry
  • Support healthcare access initiatives
  • Advocate for healthcare policies that serve all
  • Volunteer at hospitals or healthcare facilities

Resources:

See Also: Matthew 25, Healthcare as Compassion

6. Visit the Imprisoned

What Jesus Says: “I was in prison, and you came to me.”

Getting Started:

  • Learn about prison ministry in your area
  • Support prison ministry programs
  • Write to someone in prison

Going Deeper:

  • Visit those in prison
  • Support reentry programs
  • Advocate for criminal justice reform
  • Work for alternatives to incarceration

Resources:

  • Prison ministry organizations
  • Reentry programs
  • Policy: Policy

See Also: Matthew 25

Practical Steps

This Week

  • Identify one area of need in your community
  • Take one action to serve the least of these
  • Visit someone who is sick or in prison
  • Donate food, clothing, or resources

This Month

  • Commit to regular service in one area
  • Build relationships with those in need
  • Start or join a service initiative
  • Advocate for policies that serve the marginalized

Ongoing

  • Make serving the least of these a regular practice
  • Measure your life against Matthew 25
  • Build community around service
  • Advocate for justice

Starting a Service Initiative

Step 1: Identify Needs

  • What needs exist in your community?
  • Who is already serving?
  • Where are the gaps?

Step 2: Gather a Team

  • Find others who want to serve
  • Share the vision
  • Divide responsibilities

Step 3: Create a Plan

  • What will you do?
  • When will you do it?
  • How will you sustain it?

Step 4: Take Action

  • Start small
  • Learn as you go
  • Adjust as needed

Step 5: Sustain and Grow

  • Build relationships
  • Create systems
  • Expand gradually

See Also: Community, Community Projects

Common Challenges

I don’t have time

Start small. Even 30 minutes a week makes a difference. Build gradually.

I don’t know where to start

Start with your local food pantry or soup kitchen. They always need volunteers.

I’m afraid

Fear is normal. Start with something comfortable. Build confidence gradually.

I don’t have resources

You don’t need money to serve. Your time and presence are valuable. Start with what you have.

I feel overwhelmed

Focus on one area. Don’t try to do everything. Build gradually.

Connection to Policy

Serving the poor connects to policy:

See Also: Policy

Connection to Community

Service is best done in community:

See Also: Community

See Also

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Action