As the first days and weeks of another January set into my soul, I realized that an undeniable number of people that I interact with on a daily basis were struggling. By the time we reached February, I was one of many, looking for a way to overcome the crippling weight of the plight of our nation.
The only effective approach for me, when I find the darkness of a situation taking over, is to adjust my perspective so that I can better see the light.
When I decided to write this feature, there was one clear message I wanted to convey:
The best medicine for despair is SERVICE. Where there are acts of service, there is light.
I first met Bob Hasty when I was 16 years old. At the time, he was the senior pastor at Mill Creek Foursquare Church here in Washington. I had never been in the presence of anyone like him before. I had never met a person who led a community with such authentic and devout compassion for others. It came as absolutely no surprise when we reconnected last year that he continued to be the same steadfast and faithful man of God that I had remembered for thirty years.
Bob doesn’t spend as much time behind the pulpit delivering sermons these days. Since becoming the director of the 3BuildGlobal non-profit in 2017, he’s been traveling internationally to bring the benevolence of Christ to some of the poorest and most inherently oppressed communities in the world. According to its website, the foundation has provided aid and services to communities in Nepal, Haiti, Iraq, Syria, Pakistan, Albania, Kosovo, Indonesia and various parts of Asia.
The three pillars that represent 3BuildGlobal are, building People, Infrastructure and Leaders. By investing in the people and responding compassionately to the needs in their communities, they are able to take thoughtful and respected action to provide infrastructure that enriches their livelihood. The result of working hand in hand with the people to create resources like water wells, schools, orphanages, family homes and churches, is that it reveals its leaders. They are then able to provide guidance, enrichment and empowerment to those that show aptitude or interest in continuing to build a better future.
When I asked Bob what the biggest motivator was in leading him to these regions, his response was, “they have the most need, and all I’ve ever wanted to do with my life is to serve others with a need.” He then provided a quote that is also featured on the 3BuildGlobal website.
“If you continue to look at poverty from a distance, it will become tolerable.”
As I let that sink in, I began to wonder about the poverty level in America. For context, I was able to find that as of 2023, the American Census Bureau reports the number of Americans living at or under the federal poverty line sits at 11.1%. I again reached for some perspective and found through the ADB (Asian Development Bank) that the poverty level in Nepal as of 2022 is double, coming in at 20.3%. Haiti stands at a staggering 59% of the population living below its national poverty line, and that data is quite old due to the challenges of collecting this information.
Bob continued to explain that, as astounding as those numbers are, the most impactful difference lies in resources. Americans have limitless opportunity and resources to distract themselves from the pain of their plight. We have internet, television, art, comedy, etc. For communities in countries like Haiti or Nepal, they do not have time to look for such opportunities, they must live every day on a quest to simply survive.
When Bob went into further detail on one of his most recent trips to Nepal to oversee the installation of a water well for a small village, I found myself slack jawed. In order to even reach the worksite, they drove three and a half hours across rugged and difficult terrain in order to begin the two-and-a-half-hour hike straight up the mountainside with his crew. The air was so thin, all you could do was focus on your breathing and keep putting one foot in front of the other. Understanding that this occurred almost immediately after spending 24 hours sitting on 5 different airplanes made it even more impressive. I couldn’t help but ask, “why don’t they move down from the mountains, so it isn’t quite as difficult to reach them?”
His answer was simple. “The majority of people in these remote communities don’t consider it because they don’t have a strong enough education to even know that’s an option, and the ones that do aren’t willing to abandon their land.” It’s what makes the work that Bob and 3BuildGlobal does so undeniably commissioned by God. Instead of moving the struggle to a more convenient location, they meet the struggle where it is, faithfully.
There is so much beautiful representation of these people along with numerous ways to help on the 3BuildGlobal website. I encourage you to go take a look, specifically at the News page where Bob provides updates on how donations are used and the joyous celebrations that happen as a result.
In our greatest times of sorrow and defeat, the most impactful act that any person can provide is compassion.
He didn’t come out and say these words to me, but after we finished the interview, I felt like I had a perfectly clear understanding of the work Bob Hasty is doing.
By living a life built on the foundation of faith and compassion for others in need, he creates a ripple of hope, and that hope creates a resurgence of gratitude that keeps him going back.
I am profoundly grateful that he is my dear friend.
What an inspirational interview!
Bob is my bro-in-law, married to my baby sister, LaDonna. I have always thought of Bob with the highest regard.