Wendy Hammond

 Hi Lou, I think those discussions are going on at the upper levels. I haven't heard of anything concrete happening, just meetings. Steve and I are part of an interagency group that works with churches and we meet regularly. We work quite closely to help bring missions to the forefront of churches. On the field, as you probably know, the missions agencies work quite closely as well.

I'd be interested in knowing what sorts of collaboration those "in the pews" would like to see. 

I have very much enjoyed reading everyone's comments. I just returned from a trip to Uganda where a church from North America is developing a relationship with a church in Uganda. What struck me most was the similarity between the two churches, even though divided by so much distance. Also how vibrant that church in the "developing world" is! 

Regarding engaging businessmen: I hesitate to say that money cures everything. But I do hope that they feel they can get involved through our agencies. What do you think should be done to improve that? What would that look like?

Lou: CRWRC is seeking clarification about fiscal autonomy, as government agencies want to be assured that we have control over our finances and that it's not really controlled by CRCNA. We are still very much committed to partnering with other agencies and we couldn't function without the support and partnership with our churches.

Commenters on this topic may be interested in viewing the latest global missions post, "Funding Global Missions." I talk about the changing support models and link to a more in-depth article by Catalyst Services. http://network.crcna.org/content/global-mission/funding-global-missions

I want to thank everyone for their participation in this forum, and encourage lurkers (you know who you are) to join in if you have questions or further ideas.

As Steve alluded, it is very difficult to explain the strategies of entire agencies in sound bites on a forum. I have forwarded a link to this discussion to CRWRC's codirectorate and a few others, and all have said that they are more than willing to talk to anyone who would like to talk more in depth about these issues. 

To expand our thinking a bit, I'm sharing (with her permission) Susan Van Lopik's thoughts on the topic. She is our director of program excellence:

Our Reformed WorldView provides the basis for anyone to see their vocation as part of the mission of God. Thanks be to God for pastors, business people, students, social workers, teachers, lawyers, doctors, investors, etc. who understand and accept a call to work in God's Kingdom using the gifts they have been given. Poverty, hunger and injustice are issues that are so complex that many approaches are necessary, and thus the gifts of many are required.  While economics plays a very big role in both the cause and solution to poverty, hunger, and injustice, it is not the one and only cause nor solution. While supporting world wide business development can play a part in creating change that is necessary to bring hope to the poor, the hungry and the oppressed, business alone cannot create the change that is needed. 

It is ugly to look upon poverty, hunger and injustice, and to grapple with the sin in this world that gives birth to these tragedies. Yet, in the midst of this pain we see people coming together, communities around the world recognizing their own assets, strengths and abilities to create change for themselves. We see local business people in Nigeria who work in peacebuilding and reconciliation, beyond creating financial capital, but building social capital as well. God's mission is 3-D, a world of layers and nuances, there is a place for each of us, a deep place for each of us to bring our gifts in service to God.

I don't know what media you're referring to, but I have seen links to numerous articles (TV shows, newspaper clips) on facebook. The links my friends tend to post are about the attackers getting shot because the intended victim was concealed carrying. So the media I'm coming across IS outraged. 

Why do you have to choose one or the other? I think both are important. The days of one person being able to do it all (the domine) are long gone.

in the U.S., IRS 990 forms provide similar information. Interestingly, when checking on Guidestar, CRWRC's are available but I did not see other agencies or CRCNA.

World Renew is responding http://worldrenew.net/our-stories/world-renew-responds-alberta-floods

I was wondering about debit cards too. I almost never carry cash unless I'm going to the farmer's market. Bills are all autopay. I don't use credit cards except for work. Seems to me that the statistic might not be a cause/effect relationship. Maybe people who use cash tend to spend less in general and wouldn't change if they switched to credit . . . or maybe people who spend more are more likely to use credit and that wouldn't change if they switched to cash.

Maybe a better question for discussion is, "What should Christians buy?"