Give Your Money To These Guys

Every year, I list a couple of organizations I think are worthy of your hard-earned money for last-minute charitable contributions.

Actually, this is my first year to write the blog, so that's not true.

So, this year I am going to list a couple of organizations I think are worthy of your hard-earned money for last-minute charitable contributions.

And, I mean it. We're giving some money to both of these organizations this year-end and will continue in 2014.

One is local, for Charlotte-area readers in particular. One is international.

Local first. The Way/Camino Church has captured my heart.

Most every church talks about serving their community. This bilingual, multi-ethnic congregation, with two campuses in the Concord area, does it like a boss.

This past year, the church and its Camino Community Center gave 1.2 million dollars away. The Community Center - at a separate location from the site where the church worships corporately - features, among other efforts, a free health care clinic, a counseling clinic, a food pantry, a homeless kitchen, and a community store - all run on a shoestring and incredibly effective at getting help to clients who need it most.

The church itself is a combination of a freshly merged two churches and offers an English language service at 10 AM and one in Spanish at 12 noon. I have seen few churches with a better vision and a brighter future and a more intentional commitment to community outreach than this one. The campus where services are held is at 7557 Ruben Linker Road in Concord (near the Concord Mills Mall exit) and the phone number is 704.721.5922. You can also like them on Facebook under The Way/Camino Church

My respect for this group of people and their pastor, Rusty Price, is immense.

International next.

I hold no large-scale organization in higher esteem than the International Justice Mission. They are a human rights agency which brings rescue to victims of slavery, sexual exploitation, and other forms of violent oppression.

Their fearless team of investigators, lawyers, operatives, and aftercare professionals lay everything on the line to serve, rescue, and care for 'the least of these'. These folks are on the front line of dealing with the most significant human rights issue of our time - human trafficking. Their mission is worth every dime you can send their way.

In addition to their website, you can like them on Facebook or follow them on Twitter at @IJM.

Whether you've got five bucks or five hundred thousand, a year end gift to The Way/Camino or IJM is a great investment.