wondering why you say "we also have a secure Wi-Fi . . . for the congregation to access their electronic devices (outside of worship)." I love using YouVersion to look up the Bible texts on my smartphone. I can check out different translations from what's projected on the screen and from the printed Bibles.
I do also love the idea of tweeting during the service, perhaps because I've been to a lot of conferences where that's a common practice during the workshop to help people process what they are hearing and go back to it later . . . also to share insights with their followers.
Definitely! You've put your finger on why I feel so at home when I visit World Renew's field work. I grew up in a rural town, and most of World Renew's overseas work takes place in very rural places that many NGOs have not reached. It's amazing how similar the issues of the day are whether you are in rural Guatemala or Uganda or rural USA.
Just thinking about some of the school shootings in the news over the years . . . seems like these lessons are equally applicable for how to treat boys as well as girls.
As someone who works for one of the agencies that is suggested for four offerings per year (we don't get ministry shares though), I sincerely hope that the offering calendar does not inhibit local ministry. It's a suggestion, not a mandate. I know of many churches that don't take any special offerings - instead everything is budgeted.
You seem to imply that having strong denominational ministry must come at the expense of local congregations. I think God's vision has room for both. I just posted an article about churches that think they are too poor to do missions http://network.crcna.org/content/global-mission/your-church-too-small-or-too-poor-do-missions - and will be posting another one next week. I hope that we can overcome this scarcity mentality and recognize the immense wealth of gifts that God has given us.
Thank you for sharing that, it's an important message. It reminded me of when my Dad was still farming potatoes and onions - we would always have people stop by during harvest season and ask for seconds. He would usually give them a bag of "firsts" that he had set aside to bring home that night for our family. My mom would get angry that he "forgot" to bring home the potatoes again. It was an excellent lesson for me.
"Thanks for this encouraging article, Wendy. As one who is planning to ride from Grand Rapids to Montreal, I was concerned at first about trying to raise the required $5,000. What I found is that people have been much more generous toward this cause than I had expected. Sure, some still think I am a little crazy, but they have helped me exceed my original goal. My new goal is set at $10,000 and I believe my friends and relatives will bring me to that goal. All I had to do is ask and then tell why I am riding and the money flows. God is good!
It would be interesting to hear from those who have grown up with technology. I'm part of the in between generation (30 something) and I have a much different view of things than I see presented here. I did not grow up with social media. However, I do use my smartphone for reading the Bible, check in with Foursquare when I get to church, and occasionally take a photo if there is especially interesting artwork or something visual going on during worship. I have been to conferences where people are tweeting with a specific hash tag during a main speaker and it actually helps people to pay attention - you can retweet a quote that struck you, read what others are thinking, etc. Multitasking is second nature and rather than detracting from what's going on, it can enhance one's experience of it.
I think the same principles of good community development apply to good missions principles . . . our role as North Americans is to serve and support the indigenous local churches. They know their culture and context better than we do.
Church based development was referring to the churches in Uganda. Anneke mentions Joseph and Edward. They provide technical support and encouragement to the diaconal ministries of the Church of Uganda and the Pentecostal Assemblies of God. The COU and PAG also receive some grant funding from CRWRC to carry out the plans that Joseph and Edward help them develop. Joseph and Edward are Christians, and it is known that they work for CRWRC-Uganda.
Anneke's trip was specifically for a community development class, so it doesn't mention the church growth that results from this work. You can find an example of that in this post.
Finally, CRWRC has no plans to change from its emphasis on church-based community development (by that I mean community development carried out through indigenous churches). The name change will also not change the relationship with the CRCNA. It will be a bit more inclusive, though, of those RCA churches that work with us in the U.S., and the PAG and COU churches in Uganda, for example!
I wonder how the Factbook arrives at its data vs Operation World? I just double checked the sites and you are right, they provide different statistics.
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I love studiopress, it is SO flexible. I use it on several of my blogs and websites.
Posted in: Technology in Worship - Pros and Cons
wondering why you say "we also have a secure Wi-Fi . . . for the congregation to access their electronic devices (outside of worship)." I love using YouVersion to look up the Bible texts on my smartphone. I can check out different translations from what's projected on the screen and from the printed Bibles.
I do also love the idea of tweeting during the service, perhaps because I've been to a lot of conferences where that's a common practice during the workshop to help people process what they are hearing and go back to it later . . . also to share insights with their followers.
Posted in: Introducing A New Guide
Welcome Norm!
Posted in: To the Least of These
Definitely! You've put your finger on why I feel so at home when I visit World Renew's field work. I grew up in a rural town, and most of World Renew's overseas work takes place in very rural places that many NGOs have not reached. It's amazing how similar the issues of the day are whether you are in rural Guatemala or Uganda or rural USA.
Posted in: Teaching Boys to Respect Girls: Why It Matters
Just thinking about some of the school shootings in the news over the years . . . seems like these lessons are equally applicable for how to treat boys as well as girls.
Posted in: Cultural Intelligence: Crucial For Short Term Mission Teams (and Everyone Else)
Thank you Donna, glad to know that they are appreciated! (and being read :-)
Posted in: Wag the Dog
As someone who works for one of the agencies that is suggested for four offerings per year (we don't get ministry shares though), I sincerely hope that the offering calendar does not inhibit local ministry. It's a suggestion, not a mandate. I know of many churches that don't take any special offerings - instead everything is budgeted.
You seem to imply that having strong denominational ministry must come at the expense of local congregations. I think God's vision has room for both. I just posted an article about churches that think they are too poor to do missions http://network.crcna.org/content/global-mission/your-church-too-small-or-too-poor-do-missions - and will be posting another one next week. I hope that we can overcome this scarcity mentality and recognize the immense wealth of gifts that God has given us.
Posted in: Is Your Church Too Small or Too Poor to Do Missions?
Thank you for sharing that, it's an important message. It reminded me of when my Dad was still farming potatoes and onions - we would always have people stop by during harvest season and ask for seconds. He would usually give them a bag of "firsts" that he had set aside to bring home that night for our family. My mom would get angry that he "forgot" to bring home the potatoes again. It was an excellent lesson for me.
Posted in: Sea to Sea: Cyclists as Missionaries
Posting on behalf of Pastor Ken Prol:
"Thanks for this encouraging article, Wendy. As one who is planning to ride from Grand Rapids to Montreal, I was concerned at first about trying to raise the required $5,000. What I found is that people have been much more generous toward this cause than I had expected. Sure, some still think I am a little crazy, but they have helped me exceed my original goal. My new goal is set at $10,000 and I believe my friends and relatives will bring me to that goal. All I had to do is ask and then tell why I am riding and the money flows. God is good!
Ken"
Posted in: #helphimjesus
It would be interesting to hear from those who have grown up with technology. I'm part of the in between generation (30 something) and I have a much different view of things than I see presented here. I did not grow up with social media. However, I do use my smartphone for reading the Bible, check in with Foursquare when I get to church, and occasionally take a photo if there is especially interesting artwork or something visual going on during worship. I have been to conferences where people are tweeting with a specific hash tag during a main speaker and it actually helps people to pay attention - you can retweet a quote that struck you, read what others are thinking, etc. Multitasking is second nature and rather than detracting from what's going on, it can enhance one's experience of it.
Posted in: Behind the Scenes of an Effective STM Project
Hi Lou,
I think the same principles of good community development apply to good missions principles . . . our role as North Americans is to serve and support the indigenous local churches. They know their culture and context better than we do.
Church based development was referring to the churches in Uganda. Anneke mentions Joseph and Edward. They provide technical support and encouragement to the diaconal ministries of the Church of Uganda and the Pentecostal Assemblies of God. The COU and PAG also receive some grant funding from CRWRC to carry out the plans that Joseph and Edward help them develop. Joseph and Edward are Christians, and it is known that they work for CRWRC-Uganda.
Anneke's trip was specifically for a community development class, so it doesn't mention the church growth that results from this work. You can find an example of that in this post.
Finally, CRWRC has no plans to change from its emphasis on church-based community development (by that I mean community development carried out through indigenous churches). The name change will also not change the relationship with the CRCNA. It will be a bit more inclusive, though, of those RCA churches that work with us in the U.S., and the PAG and COU churches in Uganda, for example!
Posted in: 5 Lessons From Honduras on Short-Term Missions
I wonder how the Factbook arrives at its data vs Operation World? I just double checked the sites and you are right, they provide different statistics.