I am an intern with the Church Relations Office of World Renew at the Grand Rapids, USA office. I grew up in Byron Center, Michigan and am currently a junior at Grove City College in Grove City, Pennsylvania (North of Pittsburgh) majoring in English and Communications. I became interested in development work through the Foods Resource Bank in Byron Center, Michigan and my home church, Friendship CRC. I have had the opportunity to learn more about community development through travelling with FRB, World Renew, and other organizations. I'm hoping to pursue a career at a nonprofit working towards justice and poverty alleviation after graduating in 2016.
Prizing earthly comfort drives us to selfishness, cowardice, and apathy. When we seek comfort, we fail to trust that God will provide for us even when we personally dislike our circumstances.
The influence of youth in missions and development is often overlooked. But even though we aren’t making donations or writing books, young people like myself are doing big things.
I was nervous about safety, travel, finding community, and other things, but, strangely, I was more afraid about raising support than almost anything else.
When we talk about community development, what are we really saying?
What are you grateful for this Thanksgiving? We are grateful for God's work in the Philippines this past year!
The Lord gave me a beautiful picture of the “great cloud of witnesses” we are surrounded by as we “run with perseverance the race marked out for us”.
What is World Renew's Free A Family Program?
How does World Renew work with partners around the world?
When we talk about Global Missions, obviously we are focusing on the work of the CRC around the world. However, many elements of global missions take place right here.
A poem written in November of 1990 by Peter Kuperis who was working in Kapoeta, a major town in southern Sudan that came under the control of the SPLA, or Sudanese People’s Liberation Army.
Kim--Thanks for your comment and pointing out 2 Cor. 12:9--love that verse! So encouraging for us when we face discomfort.
Aaron--Thanks so much for your thoughts! I'm not sure that I quite understand your comment though--do you mean to say that the effort is there we just aren't doing things effectively?
Thanks for this helpful resource, Staci!
Thanks so much for that excellent and important question, Fronse!
Susan Van Lopik is a staff person at World Renew and has multiple years of experience in community development overseas....
Jack,
Exactly! Asking for support can be incredibly humbling, which is perhaps why it is so difficult. It is also important for donors to have the mindset that their prayers and...
Thanks for this important post, Jack! The Office of Social Justice has also created a new group study called Live Justly, created in partnership with Micah Challenge U.S., that will be available...
Harry & Joe,
Greg works as the Project Manager for the Salaam Project, an initiative committed to learning how to better love Muslims in the name of Christ. This project takes God's...
Very interesting point, Bill. Money is without a doubt a "king" for us as Christians. Love that verse in Psalms! If only we could put it into practice.
Thank you so much for sharing your insight. These are important things to remember, especially in light of recent news.
Bonnie, I agree with what you say about short-term missions. I recently wrote about that on the Global Missions blog-- http://network.crcna.org/global-mission/honesty-and-short-term-missions