Mutual Aid is Jesus' Work

Eyon Biddle, Sr., Project Director, Faith Food Action Network

I would not consider myself a theologian. Fortunately, I work with brilliant women at the Wisconsin Council of Churches who are incredibly well-versed as theologians. They have helped me reconnect with my spiritual foundation and encouraged me to embrace my authentic self in the process.

So, it is time for you and me to be more like Jesus and to do Jesus' work.

I have been deeply connected to the Church in my forty-four years of life. I have heard countless sermons and participated in numerous Bible studies and Sunday school groups. I have served in various ministries, from the choir to the nursery for infants, and even as an usher. From my colorful children's Bible to the concordance and theology classes in college, the one message that has truly resonated with me is the simplicity of Jesus's life, example, and ministry.

He made it clear, and I will too: to love God means to love yourself abundantly and to love your neighbor with that same abundance. Loving God involves loving yourself and caring for His people. The quote "Love thy neighbour as thyself" calls to treat others with the same love, care, and consideration that one naturally extends to oneself. It highlights the importance of empathy, compassion, and treating all individuals with dignity.

It is an incredible, simple, and profound truth.

Mutual aid is Jesus' work.

Mutual aid embodies Jesus’s call to act with love, grace, kindness, and to build relational communities while serving immediate and material needs. Although he is the Son of God and the Messiah, Jesus was fundamentally a teacher and a “fisher of people,” which means he was an organizer. He recognized that power resides not only in God but also in people. Our love for Him, ourselves, and one another can empower us to change the world.

Beautiful people, we need to engage in more of Jesus' work. Imagine a statewide network of churches practicing mutual aid in their local communities, meeting people's needs, forming valuable relationships, and strengthening communities.

In response to the harsh laws, regulations, and budget cuts we face, a state filled with God’s children can turn these challenges into an opportunity to showcase God’s power and abundant love through solidarity. As political and social institutions are being undermined or weaponized against us, we should support one another through acts of mutual aid, embodying the work of Jesus. This is entirely achievable if we dare to take action and commit to exemplifying his work.

Indeed, our current political climate is distressing and cruel. As a Black man, I have a deep understanding of the injustices in our country, not only through my own experiences but also through the rich history of my culture that spans centuries. I respectfully encourage you to understand that if I can endure the challenges while maintaining my faith and determination to fight for a better world, so can you. I can also say that through mutual aid, the Black community has been able to sustain the numerous attacks against itself throughout history.

In Milwaukee, four churches are taking a significant leap of faith by participating in our mutual aid project, the Faith Food Action Network: St. Mark AME, Cross Lutheran, Ascension Fellowship, and Albright Trinity. These churches are dedicated to improving their skills as relational organizers by attending training sessions and workshops. They have been developing plans and budgets to establish mutual aid programs to build community and address food insecurity and inequities in the neighborhoods that need help the most.

Holy Imagination. Courage. Justice.

After months of emphasizing the importance of this work and its connection to our spiritual traditions—through numerous phone calls, emails, text messages, in-person meetings, and Zoom sessions—I see four churches that initially approached this project with hesitation, now beaming with excitement about the possibilities and the impact their projects can have on their communities. It took a lot of effort to reach this point, and the journey has not been easy. I invited many churches to participate, and only four answered the call. However, little by little, we are building something meaningful; we are doing the work of Jesus.

These four churches were promised $1000 of initial seed money to invest in their projects. We currently have $500 for each church. We need you to donate and contribute to their Jesus work. Their faith deserves to be supported and rewarded with God’s abundant love. Please donate today!

We also highly encourage you to establish mutual aid groups in your region with nearby communities (the staff of WCC can assist with this). 

It has become common to ask WWJD? Simply put, he would organize people, form mutual aid groups, and lead with God’s abundant love. He would also hit that donate button.

We are all we've got. The time is now. Do what you can, and then do some more. 

Keep the faith and the fight. Peace to you all.