All-age Church Service Talk

We’re going to look at a couple of Bible passages: Matthew 25 v31-40 and Deuteronomy 15 v 7-11. And we’re going to talk about how each one of us can get involved and make a difference by doing something called Toilet Twinning. You didn’t know your toilet could have a twin, did you? Introduction This morning we’re talking about God’s heart for people living in extreme poverty. I’m going to explain why poverty is personal to God, and ask the question: “Are we willing to let poverty be personal to us too?” We’re going to look at a couple of Bible passages: Matthew 25 v31-40 and Deuteronomy 15 v 7-11. And we’re going to talk about how each one of us can get involved and make a difference by doing something called Toilet Twinning. You didn’t know your toilet could have a twin, did you?

Q. Why did the toilet paper roll down the hill? Toilet humour Q. Why did the toilet paper roll down the hill? A. To get to the bottom [Optional Joke Intro] First I’ve got a couple of questions for you…

Toilet humour Q. What did one toilet say to another toilet? A. You’re looking flushed

The police are investigating but they have nothing to go on! Toilet humour Some thieves broke into the local police station and stole all the toilets. The police are investigating but they have nothing to go on!

A lot of people think the toilet is the best invention ever No toilet, no joke A lot of people think the toilet is the best invention ever Actually, toilets are no joke. They’re really important. In fact, a lot of people think that the toilet is the best invention ever. Better than the telephone or the TV or the internet. Toilets have saved more lives than even the best medicine in the world.

Flies land on the poo and then land on food. Poo makes kids poorly In lots of places around the world, there aren’t any toilets. Children go to toilet in the open air. Flies land on the poo and then land on food. Children get sick. The humble loo has done more to rid us of infectious disease than the best medicines, even antibiotics or vaccinations. Without a loo in our homes and schools to safely dispose of poo, we’d still be living in a brutal age of cholera, dysentery, typhus and typhoid fever – to say nothing of bubonic plague. 

Every two minutes, a child under five dies because unclean water and poor sanitation. It stinks! Scientists say that ‘faecal matter’ or poo, is one of the most dangerous substances around. It can survive on hands and surfaces for hours. There are about one billion germs per gram of poo. It spreads diseases. And in many places in the world it’s a killer. 2.3 billion people in the world don’t have anywhere safe, clean or hygienic to go to the loo. That’s around 30% of the world’s population. More than 50% of hospital beds in developing countries have people who are sick with an illness caused by poor sanitation – that is no loo or dirty water. Every two minutes, a child under five dies because unclean water and poor sanitation. So just while I’m talking to you today, 45 children will die, because they don’t have a safe place to go to the toilet and wash their hands. Imagine the devastation in the families of those children. Their parents, their brothers and sisters. We don’t know these children personally. But God knows each one of these children by name. He knows the number of hairs on their heads. His heart is for them, and for the poor and the sick throughout the earth.

The difference a loo makes In Ethiopia, Tadelech’s eight children were constantly sick The difference a loo makes In Ethiopia, Tadelech was one of the 2.3 billion people in the world without a loo. Her eight children were constantly sick, and she spent what little money she had on expensive medicines to try and make them better. Then some people came and told her how important toilets were to stop her kids getting sick. They showed her how to build a lasting latrine using local materials, and told her how important it was to wash their hands with soap after going to the toilet and before eating. Now the money that they used to spend on medicine goes towards her children’s schooling. She can pay for their clothes and good food. She says this, “Before, it was very bad. We were desperate. We thought we would die because of the disease. We are living very happily now. We believe we will live a long life.” Something as simple as a loo, saves lives.

So what can we do to help? Here’s one way to make a big difference to someone like Tadelech. Twin your toilet, with the charity Toilet Twinning. So what can we do to help? Here’s one way to make a big difference to someone like Tadelech. Twin your toilet, with the charity Toilet Twinning. Toilet Twinning is like town twinning! You twin your loo with a family that desperately needs a loo. Every donation of £60 is enough to twin one toilet, and you’ll even get a certificate to hang in your bathroom to remind you of your toilet twin!

Local church network Toilet Twinning works through local churches on the ground, because the church is open 24/7. The church knows who are the poorest people in its community and who most needs help. Perhaps most importantly, the church is trusted by the community. Local church network Toilet Twinning works through local churches on the ground, because the church is open 24/7. The church knows who are the poorest people in its community and who most needs help. Perhaps most importantly, the church is trusted by the community.

Open-handed and generous Read: Deuteronomony 15 v 7 to 11 So today, let’s remember that poverty is personal. It’s personal to God. Can we make it personal for us too? Because if we do, we can make a huge difference; one person at a time. Read: Deuteronomony 15 v 7 to 11 Pray Open-handed and generous So today, let’s remember that poverty is personal. It’s personal to God. Can we make it personal for us too? Because if we do, we can make a huge difference; one person at a time. Read: Deuteronomony 15 v 7 to 11 Pray