All-age Church Service Talk

Are we willing to let poverty be personal?

Toilet humour Q. Why did the toilet paper roll down the hill? A. To get to the bottom

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

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!

It stinks! There are about 1 billion germs per gramme of poo. It spreads diseases. And in many places in the world it’s a killer.

2.5 billion people – 40% of the world’s population don’t have anywhere safe, clean or hygienic to go to the loo.

More than 50% of hospital beds in developing countries have people who are sick with an illness caused by dirty water or lack of sanitation

Every minute, three children under the age of 5 die because of dirty water and poor sanitation.

God’s heart is for the poor and sick throughout the earth

“I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.” Matthew 25 verse

The difference a loo makes In Ethiopia, Tadelech’s eight children were constantly sick, and she spent what little money she had on expensive medicines to try and make them better.

The Kale Heywet Church’s development team came and told her village about the link between sanitation and health. They showed her how to build a lasting latrine using local materials, and told her about the importance of washing hands.

So what can we do to help? With Toilet Twinning you can twin your loo with a latrine overseas. Every donation of £60 is enough to twin one toilet, and you’ll get a certificate to hang in your cloakroom.

Poverty is personal If anyone is poor among your fellow Israelites in any of the towns of the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward them. Rather, be openhanded and freely lend them whatever they need… Give generously to them and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to. Read: Deuteronomony 15 v7 - 11