Asking God to fix us
As we continue to talk about and think through the mission for Kenya it sometimes comes across a bit general and broad. You may have heard us say that we just simply want to go to Kenya and do life along side of our brothers and sisters in Kenya. I have been reading "When Helping Hurts" (Corbett & Fikkert). They share several great thoughts about helping the poor particularly in the Majority World and a perspective that we are in agreement with. While we do have a plan, here is the bigger perspective of why we are going and what we will be doing.
Poverty alleviation is the ministry of reconciliation: moving people closer to glorifying God by living in right relationship with God, with self, with others, and with the rest of creation (2 Corinthians 5:18-20).
The mission is to pursue a process of walking with the materially poor so that they are better stewards of their lives and communities, so that people can fulfill their callings of glorifying God by working and supporting themselves and their families with the fruit of that work.
Our perspective should be less about how we are going to fix the materially poor and more about how we can walk together, asking God to fix us both.
We do not have the answers but certainly with God's help we can work together and be reconciled to Him. In this sense, we are all missionaries. At times you might think that you are not fit to be a missionary, to minister to others. Don't believe it! Don't subscribe to this lie any longer! The truth is, we are all unfit without the saving life of Christ. We all ought to be doing life together (not alone) and asking God to fix us. I find that I need to ask God to fix me everyday. 1 Timothy 1:14 "and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus." Thank God for His grace.
When is the last time you though of yourself as a missionary?
-SDG
Poverty alleviation is the ministry of reconciliation: moving people closer to glorifying God by living in right relationship with God, with self, with others, and with the rest of creation (2 Corinthians 5:18-20).
The mission is to pursue a process of walking with the materially poor so that they are better stewards of their lives and communities, so that people can fulfill their callings of glorifying God by working and supporting themselves and their families with the fruit of that work.
Our perspective should be less about how we are going to fix the materially poor and more about how we can walk together, asking God to fix us both.
We do not have the answers but certainly with God's help we can work together and be reconciled to Him. In this sense, we are all missionaries. At times you might think that you are not fit to be a missionary, to minister to others. Don't believe it! Don't subscribe to this lie any longer! The truth is, we are all unfit without the saving life of Christ. We all ought to be doing life together (not alone) and asking God to fix us. I find that I need to ask God to fix me everyday. 1 Timothy 1:14 "and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus." Thank God for His grace.
When is the last time you though of yourself as a missionary?
-SDG
This is SO right on, Brad! It's not out of who we are that we serve or what we have to offer, but just serving out of gratitude for what Jesus has done for us in our weakness and brokenness. We can't be "casual" about our Christianity once we find the Truth! Praying for you guys!
ReplyDeleteTerri Lynn