Why We Serve
A Social Perspective of Our Vision
“And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward”(Matthew 10:42).
In the last century, international political development and globalization have partly given rise to, and partly exposed the heartbreaking situation in the developing world. Governmental programs like UNICEF have done amazing things to provide people with clean water and basic medical supplies that have raised living standards and saved millions of lives. In addition, a generation of social entrepreneurs has risen up to affect many positive changes in the developing world.
But, by all accounts, it has been too little. Feeling that the problems needed to be addressed on a larger scale, many have sought to change governments in order to make life better for people. But the last century has seen the disillusionment of the idea of easy progress by government. The concept of revolution has cost many more lives than it has saved, and corruption in third-world governments has made much of the effort to make things better for the people ineffective. The problem goes deeper and the social evil is too great on both sides of the line between government handouts and real incentives no matter where you place it. Sweeping social and governmental programs will always touch the life of a person less than the only thing that can really make a difference: true human love. But love cannot be legislated, managed, or implemented by social programs. Many well-funded Western social programs in the third world have similar problems: they are run by people who don't understand the people, the culture, and the problems--people who can go home when it fails. And much of the effort to put the work in the hands of indigenous people has failed for a familiar reason: corruption.
Still, there is love; there are people out there who care and are fighting to make a difference in people's lives. There are those who know what needs to be done, are willing to do what it takes to do it and will not be turned aside by corruption--people whose very lives are a testimony to these facts. But they are the very ones who do not come running when the West calls for volunteers to do social work. They do not come running because their eyes are turned to those in need. But their resources are so often lacking, precisely because their focus is on the people before them. Our goal is to find them and empower them to do what they're already doing on a larger scale and do it more effectively.
A Christian Perspective on Our Vision
“If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?”(1 John 3:17-18)
The last few generations of missionaries have brought the light of the gospel all over the world. Now, in most of the world, indigenous Christians are carrying that torch to the unreached. We believe it is our task to help the rising generations of Christians become salt to their native lands, and help them become more effective in caring for the poor and oppressed, one of Christ's most persistent commands.
Therefore, we seek to find those people that are already doing this work, and provide resources and vision to be more effective. Nothing is more important to us than finding the people that God has called us to—that is, those who are already effectively caring for orphans, widows, trafficked girls, and other oppressed people. In the body of Christ, each member has its specific purpose, based primarily on what it is useful for, and how it can most effectively serve the body, as well as, the Head being Christ.
As Western Christians we are given some of the greatest opportunities in the history of the world. The internet, globalization, and the fact that we are so far from serious danger of real physical neediness—these are gifts we have been given, for which we will be held accountable, and which can be used to do great things in God's service.
On the other hand, we will always be more ill-equipped to share the gospel and be Christ's hands and feet to the people than indigenous people who know the language and culture. Many are already taking God's light and love to those around them even though often isolated from the resources that would help them be more effective.
Believing that each person has a specific purpose in the body of Christ, we are committed to empowering individuals to do the things that they were created for, and finding those who have been called (and shown themselves faithful) to each aspect of our work.
To those who are faithful God says, "you have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things." It is our vision to be the hands with which the Master will, in accordance with this principle, give resources to His faithful ones to carry out His work.
