Man’s mission: spreading kindness to all

Alicia Boisson
South Peace News

Since deciding to wholeheartedly embrace Christianity five years ago, Keith Parke and his wife, Bev, have decided on a mission to spread he word of the Lord by helping those in need. Over the past two years the pair, who farm in the Big Meadow region, have helped by saving families from eviction, feeding those who were hungry and even just simply covering the cost of admission for swimming for a number of children in the community. “The reason I do anything is because my wife and I are Christians and the Bible says to love your neighbour and help those in need,” says Parke. “I am not a preacher but I do believe what the Bible has to say. But I want to be able to proudly say that I practice what I preach.” Although their generosity doesn’t always come easy because of cost, Parke says the relationships he has built with children and a number of families is worth any struggles he faces. “We’re not rich by no means,” adds Parke. “It’s just about showing these people that someone cares about them. I have made a commitment to the Lord and everything we have belongs to Him. If someone is hungry and I have food, I feed them. I am serving the Lord by helping them.” Parke says people would be amazed how much the children respect him, and they have come to trust him. “Taking them out gives them something to do, when they wouldn’t be doing anything,” says Parke. “You get to know them more and more, it takes a lot of money but the rewards are greater. When I tell them that I will take them to the pool on a Saturday they are excited all week. It gives them something to look forward to. If people could see how happy they are they wouldn’t see the negative prejudices some have towards these kids. “People appreciate what you do even if it is a simple thing,” he adds. “They get looked down on so much that when someone takes that step to help they are so happy. You can never know how it feels until you hear the words ‘thank you’ Parke says there are times when he has to help someone out more than once, but he doesn’t let that stop his willingness to send the message of Jesus. “It is not my place to judge or condemn them. My job is to forgive them,” says Parke. “I love them all the same, even if I have to help them every month. I help them like I helped them the first month.” Having faith in what he is doing and believing that someday one of the many people he has helped will change, is the hardest part of his mission, says Parke. “But at the same time I look at it through the eyes of Jesus and ask myself what would He do,” says Parke. “I am so frustrated with all the talk and no action to the point where I said I want to see Jesus in my heart, not just in my head. “I truly believe that if Christians lived the way Jesus wanted them to there would be no homeless, crime or drugs, because everyone would be helping each other,” says Parke. “I won’t be happy until I have given the Lord everything.”

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