Do you cringe like I do when you hear reports during bad weather or government budget crises that "only essential workers need come to work today?" There is something worse than humbling about occupying a position that others consider “non-essential.”

With the calamitous economic woes in the air, consumers are redefining "essential." Cosmetic surgeons are seeing a dramatic decline in the "need" for nips, tucks and enhancements. Suddenly consumers believe their wrinkles and sags lend character and their current endowments are just fine, thank you very much.

News reports say 600 car dealerships may close in the next 12 months. My favorite clothing store recently offered suits at a "buy one get TWO free" ratio. Even Toyota is offering discounts.

This confidence shattering slowdown is revealing how much of what we do and buy is non-essential. I grew up around farming and boy, was I essential then. Uncle Donnie couldn't get the hay in the barn without me driving the tractor when I was young or slinging the bales when I got stronger.

I believe the ministry of the Biblical Recorder is essential to the health of North Carolina Baptist life. Certainly doctors, nurses, people in the food chain and power grid are essential. Everyone who produces the things we need to live is engaged in an essential task. Many of the services we utilize are not essential. But our use of them keeps food on other people's tables.

As textiles and other manufacturing have shed jobs in North Carolina many displaced workers found or created new jobs in service industries. In the current calamity we're doing without services we used to deem "essential." People are mowing their own grass, washing their own cars, making their own meals and starting daycare and babysitting co-ops. 

As you examine your budget and consider what you might have to get along without if this economic toilet actually flushes, what makes your list? If you're typical, you could save a couple dollars a day by forgoing definitely non-essential soft drinks and gain health in the bargain. How about the coffee shop?  New shoes? Dining out?

We just cut our cable bill in half, lowered cell phone minutes we weren’t using and put a car purchase on hold. The underused gym membership will lapse in favor of walking shoes and bike repair.

This is the time for the church of Jesus Christ to stand tall and "assert essential" in an atmosphere of doubt, uncertainty and fear. Four thousand red brick, white sided or cement block Baptist church buildings in North Carolina may seem to sit unnoticed on the town square or busy corner, side street or shopping center of your town day in and day out. But, just as people packed pews after the tragic events of 9/11, they will be turning to churches.

Every church clothing closet, food pantry and benevolent fund is being taxed to the max by people who suddenly realize just how essential Christian ministry is among them.

October 12 is World Hunger Day and just at the time our own fears make us want to pull in, hoard and take care of ourselves first, this is the time to show ourselves essential.

Next door, down the street or overseas, Baptists utilize hunger funds to meet human need and unlock closed hearts hungry for spiritual food.

Steve Faith, head of the Southeast Indiana Baptist Food Warehouse in New Albany, partners with churches that receive World Hunger funds to distribute meals to Indiana's poor. When one couple came to a church to pick up food, they both responded to the gospel and later led a dozen relatives to Christ, Faith said.

"Brother, there are people out there, and they really need help," he said. "We have more needs than product. It's currently worse than I've ever seen it.”

If we will measure and sort our own non-essentials, we will be essential as the body of Christ.