How do we respond to the silent appeal in the dark eyes of the child in the charity catalogue, or the blanketed figure in the cold shop doorway? Should we share the gospel with them, or a bowl of soup? Throughout history, men and women such as Wilberforce, Shaftesbury, Carey and booth have recognised a call to help the needy. Others have argued that our first task is evangelism, that Christians should not meddle in politics, that social action is...