"We're in a recession"

Those words, spoken by Robert Brusca, an economist at FAO Economics, say what we all pretty much know to be true. Politicians tend to want to spin the news on the economy in the best way possible, so you'll almost never hear them use the "r" word. But the most recent news out about the economy - 240,000 more jobs lost in October and an unemployment rate up to 6.5% - shows an economy that is sputtering, at best.

The job loss in October brings the yearly total up to 1.2 million, and more than half of those have been lost in the last three months alone. The unemployment rate of 6.5% is the highest it has been since 1994. One of the most distressing aspects of the current economic downturn is the pessimistic tone of the economists that are being interviewed for stories like this one in the New York Times and this one for CNN Money.

A few weeks ago, I wrote that the country's economic woes are going to cause Christians to have to really pay attention to how we are caring for one another. When we see our brothers and sisters around us suffering - whether through job loss, drop-off in business, or layoff - it should call us to reach out our hands in love and support. This is exactly what the church is called to do, and there ain't no shame in it. In my own church, we have begun to help more families with grocery needs and gas cards. We haven't seen anything really devastating yet (such as job loss by a family's primary breadwinner), but I wouldn't be surprised to see it happen soon.

Have you seen the effects of the economic downturn in your own community? What is your church doing to meet the needs that you are seeing?