Efrem Smith, author and founder of the Sanctuary Covenant Church and Community Development Corporation, spoke in Belmont’s Chapel this morning on “No More Orphans,” expressing his passion to inspire today’s generation to use their resources to aid the poor.
Commenting on the biblical example of “the least of these” found in Matthew 25, Smith said, “Jesus is giving his listeners pictures of what he’s been proclaiming and practicing while walking the earth… His life is to be an embodiment of the Kingdom of God, to show the value system of the Kingdom of God on earth.”
He continued by advocating for those present to have a similar sense of justice and generosity, noting the example Martin Luther King offered of the “beloved community,” the hoped for time when unconditional love was a present reality.
“We are resourced people,” Smith said. “You may not feel like it as a college student, but you could be more resourced than you think. Your gifts, talents and abilities are resources as is your time.”
Smith’s heart for the poor is expressed in his books The Hip-Hop Church and Raising Up Young Heroes, as well as through being a spokesperson for the child sponsorship ministry Compassion International. The event was co-sponsored by the Office of Spiritual Development and the Social Entrepreneurship program.