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We talk a lot about advocacy at World Relief and how it’s important to advocate for the issues and the people we care about. But perhaps you’ve found yourself wondering — what does it mean to be an advocate? Or, how can I be an advocate in my community?
These are great questions, and we’re excited to answer them today. From the very beginning of scripture, we are taught that people are created in the image of God. This truth is fundamental to our advocacy and lays the foundation for how we choose to interact with our neighbors both near and far.
Throughout scripture, we are given many examples of people who raised their voices to advocate before kings, governments and authorities.
Moses confronted Pharaoh and advocated for the release of his people from slavery. Esther used her voice to advocate before the king on behalf of her people. But she didn’t do it alone — she called on her entire community to fast and pray as she prepared to go for the king. John the Baptist challenged King Herod and ultimately paid the price with his life. And then there was Jesus, whom the writer of 1 John refers to as our advocate before God.
With this biblical foundation in mind, here are 10 ways to be an advocate in your community and beyond:
1. Consider Your Proximity
How close are you to the people you want to serve? What are the needs of your community and who is most impacted by those needs? In order to answer these questions, you have to first get to know your neighbors and be around those who are in need. You have to listen and learn to see what life is like through their eyes. If you want to be an advocate, proximity is important.
2. Recognize Your Blindspots
As you get to know others in your community, you will begin to recognize your privileges, the differences in your life experience and any blindspots you may have about the issues you want to advocate for. Recognizing these blindspots is key for effective advocacy because it helps you see where you might need to do some more learning or shift your thinking as you begin to advocate.
3. Practice Mutual Hospitality
Mutual hospitality, in its simplest terms, means to be curious about others. It is understanding that welcoming and serving others is a give-and-receive opportunity. And perhaps most importantly, it’s a way of life.
Although people in vulnerable situations have needs, they are still people who have talents, skills and wisdom to provide. Unfortunately, many of these people have experienced hardships that have taken a lot from them. In many instances, these hardships may reduce their power to give and serve others. But that doesn’t mean they aren’t ready and willing to give and serve. One of the most practical ways we can love and advocate for people is to be ready to receive them — whatever that looks like — and acknowledge their inherent dignity in Christ along the way.
4. Amplify First
We often hear the phrase “give a voice to the voiceless” in non-profit and advocacy spaces. But at World Relief, we recognize that there are no voiceless people. Many times, certain people are just ignored, purposely quieted or set to the side. It’s important to create opportunities to amplify the voices of those you want to advocate for before you raise your own voice. Most of the time, people know what they need. They just need the opportunity and the space to ask for it and be heard.
5. Pray
We believe in the power of prayer. It’s good to have specific and intentional prayers for your advocacy and for your community. Any advocacy action you take should be first rooted in prayer, trusting God for the outcomes. As you put yourself in close proximity with those in need, practice mutual hospitality and learn how to amplify their voices, you will also learn how to pray for them specifically and be intentional with those prayers.
6. Get In Your Community
This can look a lot of different ways. You can volunteer for organizations like World Relief or other non-profits in your community. You can support local businesses and services, attend community meetings and events, join the local school board or volunteer to coach youth soccer. The list could go on. Whatever you can do to become an integral part of your community will help you be an effective community advocate.
7. Harness the Power of Your Dollar
You can advocate by ensuring the products you buy and the places where you shop align with your values and the things that are important to your community. You can also shop locally and support local businesses as mentioned above. Specifically, many immigrants and refugees are entrepreneurs and go on to start their own businesses, so be sure to support them. Likewise, if you plan an event or host a gathering, look for opportunities to incorporate donation opportunities to raise awareness and funds for the causes you care about.
8. Talk to Your Friends and Family
If there’s something you care about, talk to your people about it. Have conversations filled with grace, love and also truth. This is a very practical and very tangible way to practice advocacy in your everyday life.
The work of justice and advocacy was not meant to be done alone. We were created for community and we advocate in community. As you talk to your family and friends about the issues you care about, invite them to join you in your advocacy. Volunteer together, host a calling party and contact your representatives together, pray together or share a meal with a new immigrant neighbor together. There is power in our collective action, so don’t feel like you need to go at it alone.
9. Keep Learning!
Continue learning about the issues you care about. Read books by people most closely connected to the issues. Get to know people and continue learning from their different experiences.
9. Engage in Your Civic Responsibilty
Last but not least, of course, is to engage in your civic responsibility. Vote in local and national elections, contact your representatives and talk to them about the things you care about. The more you act, the easier it gets, and we must take advantage of the great privilege we have of living in a place where our voices can be heard.
Advocating Together
We are called to love our neighbor with actions. There are so many ways to make a difference, but the most important thing to remember is that every one of us has a role to play and our role can make a difference.
As we often say in our Path community: Change begins with a step.
Take some time this week to consider how God is calling you to love your neighbor. Then choose one action from this list and take your next step toward becoming an advocate in your community today.
Learn more about advocacy World Relief and take action with us today.
Jessica Galván is a Content Writer at World Relief. She is passionate about storytelling and amplifying diverse voices to reveal the beauty of God’s creation. She is also the Editorial Director for Chasing Justice and prior to World Relief, she was a freelance writer and editor for a variety of clients in publishing, most recently Penguin Random House. When she isn’t wordsmithing for the pursuit of faith and justice, she is spending time with her husband and their 3 children in the Houston, TX area.
Chelsea Sobolik joined World Relief in 2023. She currently works on public policy before the U.S. government and intergovernmental organizations. Prior to joining World Relief, she led policy and advocacy for Lifeline Children’s Services, the largest evangelical adoption agency in the United States. She has also served as the Director of Public Policy at the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention and worked on Capitol Hill. She is the author of Longing for Motherhood: Holding Onto Hope in the Midst of Childlessness, and her forthcoming book Called to Cultivate: A Gospel Vision for Women and Work. She lives in Northern Virginia with her husband Michael.